A-J^ 


JOHNA.SEAVERNS 


.-i-  ■■^. 


THE 


HORSE  MD  HIS  DISEASES. 


THE 


HORSE  AND  HIS  DISEASES: 


EMBRACING 


HIS   HISTORY  AND  VARIETIES,  BREEDINQ  AND  MANAGEMENT 

AND  VICES;   WITH   THE   DISEASES   TO  WHICH   HE 

IS   SUBJECT,  AND   THE   REMEDIES  BEST 

ADAPTED   TO   THEIR   CURE. 


By  ROBERT   JENNINGS,  Y.S., 

PROFESSOR    OP    PATHOLOGY   AND    OPERATIVE    SURGERY   IN    THE  VETERINARY  COLLEQE    OP 

PHILADELPHIA  ;     PROFESSOR   OF    VETERINARY    MEDICINE    IN   THE    LATE   AGRI- 

CPLTCRAL     COLLEGE    OF    OHIO  ;    SECRETARY    OF    THE     AMERICAN 

VETERINARY  ASSOCIATION  OF  PHILADELPHIA,  ETC.,  ETC. 


rO  WHICH  ARE  ADDED,  RAREY'S  METHOD  OF   TAMING  HORSES,  AND  THE 

LAW  OF  WARRANTY  AS  APPLICABLE  TO  THE  PURCHASE 

AND   SALE    OF  THE  ANIMAL. 


|Uttstmt«b  1j2  ^^^^k  ®«*  f  ttubwb  dugrabings. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PUBLISHED   BY   JOHN   E.    POTTER, 

NO.    617    SANSOM    STREET. 
1863. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year,  1S60,  by 

JOHN   E..    POTTER, 

In  the  Clerk'f  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  and  for  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


Philadelphia: 
blbctrottped  by  s.  a.  qeorob, 

991  BAHSOU  8TRSBT. 


PEEFACE. 


This  rolume  is  offered  to  the  consideration  of  the  public,  not 
without  a  knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  author  that  many  excel- 
lent works  upon  the  horse  have  already  appeared.  It  has  occurred 
to  him,  however,  that  each  of  these  various  works  is  devoted  rather 
to  the  consideration  of  some  particular  topic  of  interest  in  conuec- 
tion  with  this  generous  animal,  than  to  a  general  treatment  of  the 
various  subjects  which  appropriately  claim  notice  in  a  work  in- 
tended for  the  ordinary  reader. 

There  are  comparatively  few  in  our  country  who  are  not,  at  some 
period  or  other,  brought  into  contact  with  the  horse,  either  as 
owners,  hirers,  or  in  some  other  capacity.  The  great  majority 
cannot  avail  themselves  of  the  numerous  treatises  already  extant, 
which  touch  upon  this  animal,  without  gathering  about  themselves 
a  library  so  large  as  seriously  to  trench  upon  their  pecuniary  com- 
fort. Besides,  so  far  as  the  ailments  of  the  horse  are  concerned, 
much  progress  has  been  made  in  their  treatment  within  the  last 
few  years.  Old  theories  have  been  exploded,  and,  as  the  author 
believes,  an  era  of  a  more  humane  and  judicious  medical  treatment 
is  dawning  upon  us.  A  marked  improvement  is  discernible  in  the 
class  of  practitioners  who  essay  the  veterinary  art ;  a  greater  amount 
of  intelligence  characterizes  their  action,  and,  as  a  consequence, 
the  occupation  of  the  veterinary  surgeon  is  fast  rising  in  popular 
estimation. 

To  these  cheering  indications  of  a  better  day  for  the  horse  and 
his  owner,  the  author  claims  not  to  be  indifferent.  If  an  experi- 
ence of  fifteen  years,  diligently  devoted  to  an  investigation  of  th« 

(5) 


6  PREFACE. 

habits,  peculiarities,  wants,  and  weaknesses  of  the  horse,  has  not 
heen  utterly  fruitless  in  results,  he  flatters  himself  that  he  can  at 
least  contribute  his  mite  in  furtherance  of  a  better  understanding 
of  an  animal,  which  can  never  be  too  well  understood  by  any  one 
who  would  gain  the  greatest  possible  advantage  from  such  a  ser- 
vant. 

With  such  views  the  author  has  prepared  the  present  work.  Its 
pages  are  believed  to  contain  a  complete,  candid,  and  truthful  ex- 
position of  all  the  points  which  it  is  incumbent  upon  the  horse- 
owner  to  comprehend.  Standard  authorities  upon  the  subject  have 
been  freely  consulted,  and  the  suggestions  therein  contained  have 
been  adopted,  when  corroborated  by  the  author's  own  experience 
or  observation.  Reference  has  been  made  to  the  following  among 
others : — Percival,  Blain,  Morton,  Clark,  Finley  Dunn,  Youatt. 
Coleraan,  and  Spooner,  on  the  Horse  ;  Herbert's  Horse  of  America, 
and  Hints  to  Horsekeepers  ;  Stewart's  Stable  Economy ;  The  Far- 
mer's Encyclopedia ;  and  the  Morgan  Horse  by  Linsley. 

The  remedies  recommended  have  all  stood  the  test  of  actual  trial, 
and  are  known  to  have  proved  efficacious  in  previous  cases.  As  the 
author  has  no  special  hobby  to  ride,  he  has  in  this  department  of 
the  subject  given  such  modes  of  treatment  only  as  he  personally 
has  superintended  in  actual  practice,  no  matter  frorh  what  source 
they  may  have  been  suggested.  The  very  many  illustrations 
throughout  the  volume  it  is  believed  will  materially  enhance  its 
interest  and  value. 

With  the  hope  that  the  work  may  meet  the  approval  of  the  large 
class  for  whom  it  was  specially  prepared,  and  with  the  consciousness 
that  no  effort  to  that  end  has  been  omitted  by  the  author,  he  con- 
fidently leaves  it  in  their  hands,  to  be  dealt  with  as  to  them  shall 
seem  most  meet  and  proper. 

Philadelphiaf  September,  1860. 


CONTEIfTS 


rAGK 

HISTORY  OP  THE  HORSE, 17 

HoESES  OF  Asia  and  Africa, 24 

The  Arabian, 24 

The  Persian, 24 

The  Tartarian, 24 

The  Turkoman, 2$ 

The  Turkish  Horse, 25 

Horses  of  Hindostan, 26 

The  Barb  and  others, 28 

Edropean  Horses, 27 

The  Racer 27 

The  Hunter, ^. 27 

The  Hackney, 27 

The  Cart  Horse, 28 

German,  French,  and  Spanish  Horses, 29 

The  American  Horse, 30 

The  American  Blood  Horse, 39 

The  Vermont  Draught  Horse, 67 

The  Conestoga  Horse, , 60 

The  Canadian  Horse, 62 

The  Indian  Pony 6i 

The  Narragansett  Pacer, :.  65 

The  Morgan  Horse, v. 69 

Katcral  History  of  the  Horse, 73 

BREEDING  AND  MANAGEMENT, .:;T:~.~::...^.nn:::7.. ...'. 102 

Breeding, 102 

Breaking, , 110 

Castration, US 

SOCKINQ, 120 

0) 


$  CONTENTS. 

BREEDING  AND  MANAGEMENT— Continued.  '  »Aa« 

NiCKINO, « -121 

The  Stable, •— •  '25 

AiB, 127 

Litter, 130 

Light, 131 

Groomins, • 133 

Exercise, 135 

Food, 138 

Water, 153 

PASTtJRINa, 15^ 

Service, 168 

Shoeing, 17* 

Administering  Medicine, ; 193 

TicEs  OF  THE  HOESE ~:;::.:~:.^:nr...T:;:::;n::7..7:;::.T.....^... iss 

Eestiveness 199 

Baulking  or  Jibbing, 199 

Biting, 203 

Kicking, ■> 204 

Eearing, 20ft 

EuNNiNG  Awat, 207 

Vicious  to  Clean, 207 

Vicious  to  Shoe, 208 

Crib-biting, 210 

Wind-sucking, 212 

Overreaching 212 

Not  Lying  Down, 213 

Shting, 214 

Pawing, 216 

Rolling, 217 

Slipping  the  Collar  or  Halter, 217 

Stumbling, 218 

Unsteadiness  while  being  Mounted, 219 

pisEASEs,  AND  THEIR  REMEDIES, .:.z^.7r.:7.'::z::r.~7r.7::z:.... 220 

Diseases  op  the  Mouth, ; '. 221 

Lampas, ^ 221 

Inflamed  Gums, 222 

Bags  or  Washes, 222 

Ulcers  in  the  Mouth ^ 222 

Bore  Mouth „ 223 

Oat  ToDgue, m „ 224 

-^est^ 'M. 


COT^  TENTS.  ^ 

DISEASES,  AND  THEIR  REMEDIES— Continued.  paqb 

Unevea  Teeth, .V......,7,Zr.7r. 224 

Qaidding, 225 

Wolf  Teeth, 226 

Caries  of  the  Teeth, 227 

Extracting  Teeth, 230 

Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  Organs, 231 

Inflammation, 231 

Sore  Throat, 232 

Strangles 234 

Chronic  Cough, 23i3 

Catarrh, 236 

Distemper, 237 

Influenza, 237 

Bronchitis, 240 

Nasal  Gleet 241 

Pneumonia, 243 

Pleurisy, 245 

Hydrothorax 247 

Thick  Wind, 243 

Roaring  and  Whistling, 249 

Broken  Wind, 249 

Diseases  op  the  Stomach  and  Intestines, 251 

Inflammation  of  the  Stomach, 251 

Inflammation  of  the  Bowels, 252 

Diarrhoea, 255 

Inordinate  Appetite, 256 

Palsy  of  the  Stomach, 257 

Rupture  of  the  Stomach 253 

Calculus,  or  Stony  Concretions, 259 

Hair  Ball, 260 

Strangulation  of  the  Intestines, 260 

Spasmodic  Colic, 261 

Flatulent  Colic,...; 262 

Worms,.... 263 

Bots, 265 

Diseases  of  the  Liyek, 263 

Inflammation  of  the  Liver, 269 

Jaundice, 270 

Hepatirrhcea, 271 

Decayed  Structure  of  the  Liver 272 

Diseases  of  the  Urinary  Organs 273 

luflamiaation  of  tho  Bladder, 2Ti 


10  CONTENTS. 

DISEASES,  AND  THEIR  REMEDIES— Continued.  pjiqb 

Retention  of  Urine, i 274 

Profuse  Staling, 275 

Bloody  Urine, 276 

Stones  in  the  Kidneys, 277 

Stones  in  the  Bladder, 27S 

Diseases  of  the  Feet  and  Legs, 279 

Contraction  of  the  Hoof, 279 

Corns 2S0 

Quitter, 2S2 

Thrush, 282 

Canker, 283 

Scratches > 284 

Grease  Heels, 284 

Water  Farcy 286 

Weed, 287 

Cracked  Hoof, 287 

Sole  Bruise  and  Gravel, 283 

Pricking, 288 

False  Quarter, 289 

Founder, 290 

Pumiced  Foot, • 291 

Corinitis, 291 

Navicularthritis, , 292 

Ossification  of  the  Lateral  Cartilages, 293 

Wind  Galls, 294 

Sprung  or  Broken  Knees, , 294 

Breaking  Down 295 

Strains  of  the  Knees, 295 

Strain  of  the  Hip  Joint, 296 

Shoulder  Strain, 296 

Open  Joints, 297 

Sweenie, 297 

Ostitis, 298 

Capulet  and  Capped  Hock, 299 

Caries  of  the  Bones 299 

Bone  Spavin, 300 

Ring  Bone, 303 

Splint, 303 

Curb, 304 

String  Halt, 305 

Blood  Spavin,  Bog  Spavin,  and  Thoroughpin, 305 

Fractures,. rf. , „ SOft 


CONTENTS.  11 

DISEASES  AND  THEIR  REMEDIES— Continued.  ^aqb 

Diseases  of  the  Heart, 307 

Pericarditis, 308 

Carditis, 310 

Endrocarditis, 310 

Diseases  of  the  Head, 311 

Osteo-Sarcoma, 311 

Inflammation  of  the  Brain, 312 

Megrims, 313 

Vertigo, 314 

Epilepsy, 314 

Stomach  Staggers, 315 

Diseases  of  the  Ete, 317 

Amaurosis, >. 317 

Inflammation  of  the  Membrana  Nictitans, 31S 

Simple  Ophthalmia, 319 

Specific  Ophthalmia, 320 

Cataract, 321 

Wall  Eye 322 

Miscellaneous  Diseases,.. ..o 322 

Poll  Evil, 322 

Fistula  of  the  Withers, 324 

Melanotic  Tumors, 324 

Glanders 325 

Farcy 327 

Scarlet  Fever 32S 

Mange, : 329 

Surfeit 331 

Hide  Bound, 332 

Strains  of  the  Loins, 1 332 

Palsy, 333 

Locked  Jaw, 333 

Rheumatism, 335 

Cramp, • 336 

Hydrocele, 336 

Warts, , 337 

Sit-Fasts, 327 

Warbles, 338 

Saddle  or  Harness  Galls 338 

Mallanders  and  Sellenders, 338 

Ulceration  of  the  Udder, 339 

Inflamed  Veins, ^ 339 

BCBQicAL  Cases, *39 


12  CONTENTS. 

DISEASES  AND  THEIR  REMEDIES— Continued.  ?Aai 

Bleeding 341 

Neurotomy  or  Nerving, 342 

Lithotomy, 345 

Trephining 345 

Tenotomy, , 346 

Couching, 346 

Tapping  the  Chest, 346 

Periosteotomy, 347 

Amputation  of  the  Penis, 347 

(Esophagotomy, 348 

Hernia, 349 

Roweling, 350 

Firing, « 351 

Tracheotomy, 352 

RAREY'S  METHOD  OF  TAMING  HORSES 353 

How  TO  Call  a  Colt  from  Pasture, 356 

How  TO  Stable  A  Colt  WITHOUT  Trouble, 357 

Approaching  a  Colt, 362 

How  TO  Halter  AND  Lead  a  Colt, 364 

How  to  Tie  up  a  Colt, 367 

How  to  Tame  a  Horse, 368 

How  TO  Make  a  Horse  Lie  Down, 369 

To  Accustom  a  Horse  to  strange  Sounds  and  Sights, 370 

To  Accustom  a  Horse  to  a  Drum, 371 

To  Teach  a  Horse  to  bear  an  Umbrella, 372 

To  Fire  off  a  Horse's  Back,.. 372 

How  TO  Accustom  a  Horse  to  a  Bit 372 

The  proper  Wat  to  Bit  a  Colt, 373 

How  TO  Saddle  a  Colt, 374 

How  to  Mount  the  Colt, 376 

How  TO  Ride  a  Colt, 378 

How  to  Break  A  Horse  to  Harness, 379 

WARRANTT, ....« S82 


ILLUSTRATIOIfS. 


-•♦#- 


PACfl 

Tlie  Arab  and  his  Steed, a 17 

The  Shetland  Pony.  — An  English  Sporting  Scene, 21 

The  Stallion, ,..,  28 

American  Farm  Scene, 30 

The  Canadian, , 35 

Black  Hawk, — An  American  Racer, 43 

American  Plantation  Scene, 47 

The  Vermont  Draught-Horse, 58 

A  Conestoga.  —  The  Great  Pennsylvania  Draught-Horse, 60 

Ethan  Allen, — A  Fast-trotting  Morgan  Horse, 69 

Skeleton  of  the  Horse,  as  covered  by  the  Muscles, 73 

Names  applied  to  the  various  External  Parts  of  the  Horse, 80 

Eight  Days'  Teeth, 88 

Three  or  Four  Months'  Teeth, 88 

Teeth  at  Twelve  Months, 90 

A  Grinder  sawed  across, 90 

Two  Years'  Teeth, 91 

Three  Years'  Teeth, 92 

Four  Years'  Teeth, 94 

Five  Years'  Teeth, 95 

Six  Years'  Teeth, 96 

Seven  Years'  Teeth, , 97 

Eight  or  Nine  Years'  Teeth, ..^. 98 

Mare  and  Foal, «•$ - 102 

The  Arab  Stallion,  Jupiter, «.....|d...: ■. 105 

Breaking, \ »;;v;......v.....* HO 

The  Agriculturist's  Method,.  ..*v^t«^.w.. .'..;*«.•...» 117 

(13) 


14  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAQB 

The  Usual  Method, 123 

The  French  Method, 124 

Customary  Forms  of  Stalls, 126 

Grooming, 133 

Exercise, 136 

Out  to  Grass, 143 

The  American  Racer,  Black  Maria, 147 

Pasturing, 157 

Service, -  169 

Ground  Surface  of  the  Hoof, 175 

The  Hoof  of  the  Horse, 176 

A  Section  of  the  Foot, 177 

The  Position  of  the  Shoe, 187 

The  Proper  Form  of  a  Shoe, 192 

Running  Away, 198 

Particularly  Dangerous, .' 204 

Muzzle  for  a  Crib-Biter, 210 

Disagreeable  and  Dangerous, 214 

The  Sick  Horse, 220 

The  Blooded  Mare  Fashion,  and  Foal, 227 

The  Saddle-Horse, 232 

Quiet  Enjoyment, 237 

The  Tro,tting-Horse,  Lexington, 244 

The  Attack  and  Defense, 250 

Omar  Pasha,  the  Turkish  Chieftain, .*  256 

Sir  Archy,  the  Godolphin  of  America, 262 

Common  Gad-Fly  or  Bot, 265 

Eggs  on  a  Hair, 266 

Eggs  Magnified, 266 

Caterpillar,  full  size, 267 

Caterpillar  or  Larvse,  adhering  to  the  Lining  of  the  Stomach,...  267 

The  Red  Gad-Fly,  268 

Caterpillar  of  the  Red  Gad-Fly, 268 

Virginia  Mill-Boys  on  a  Race, 273 

The  Fast-Trotting  Stallion,  Geo.  M.  Patchen, 279 


ILLUSTRATIONS.  15 

PAOS 

The  Children's  Pet, 285 

The  Famous  Trotting-Mare,  Flora  Temple, 292 

The  Equestrienne, 298 

The  High-Bred  Pacing  Mare,  Pocahontas, 302 

The  end  of  Pericarditis,  309 

Haying  Scene, 316 

The  Trotting  Stallion,  American  Eclipse, 323 

The  Three  Friends, 330 

Byron's  Mazeppa, 335 

Lady  Suffolk, 341 

Good  for  Heavy  Drafts, 349 

The  Horse  Tamed, 353 

Bridle  with  a  wooden  Gag-bit  for  conquering  vicious  Horses,...  358 

Strap  for  the  Right  Fore-leg, 360 

Strap  for  the  Off  Fore-leg, 362 

Taming  the  Horse, 366 

Teaching  the  Horse  to  lie  down, 370 

Struggles  of  the  Vicious  Horse  against  lying  down, 373 

Submission  of  the  Horse, 377 

Breaking  the  Horse  to  Harness,.,,. t., 380 


To  man,  whether  as  a  civilized  being 
or  as  a  barbarian,  no  animal  is  more 
useful  than  the  horse.  The  beauty, 
grace,  and  dignity  of  this  noble  creature,  when  in  a  properly 
developed  state,  are  as  marked  as  his  utility.  As  an  intelligent 
animal,  he  ranks  next  in  the  scale  to  the  dog,  that  other  com- 
panion and  friend  of  man.  Taking  into  consideration,  then, 
his  usefulness,  his  attractive  appearance,  and  his  intelligence, 
vhat  is  known  of  his  history  cannot  prove  unacceptable. 
2  (H) 


18  HISTORY   OF   THE    HORSE. 

In  order  to  ascertain  the  special  land  which  can  claim  the 
proud  honor  of  being  the  parent  country,  the  birth-place  of  this 
noble  animal,  recourse  must  be  had  primarily  to  the  pages  of 
Scripture,  as  being  the  most  ancient  and  best  authenticated  of 
all  existing  histories.  By  reference  to  those  pages,  we  find 
that,  although  the  ass  was  in  early  use  among  the  children  of 
Israel,  the  horse  was  unknown  to  them  until  after  the  com- 
mencement of  their  dwelling  in  Egypt ;  and  strong  evidence 
exists  for  the  belief  that  he  was  not  brought  into  subjection, 
even  in  that  country,  until  after  their  arrival.  Clear  it  is,  at 
all  events,  that  Arabia,  which  many  have  supposed  to  be  the 
native  home  of  the  horse,  did  not  possess  him  until  within  a 
comparatively  recent  period ;  while  his  introduction  into  Greece, 
and  thence  into  those  countries  of  Europe  and  Asia  in  which 
he  is  now  found,  either  wild  or  domesticated,  may  be  traced 
with  much  certainty  to  an  Egyptian  source. 

Although  in  the  history  of  Abraham  frequent  mention  is 
made  of  the  ass,  of  the  camel,  of  flocks  and  herds,  sheep  and 
oxen,  there  is  no  allusion  to  the  horse ;  nor,  indeed,  do  we 
find  any  such  until  we  reach  the  time  of  Joseph.  In  the 
reign  of  that  Pharaoh  in  whose  service  Joseph  was,  wagons 
were  sent  by  the  king's  command  into  Canaan,  to  bring  thence 
into  Egypt  Jacob  and  his  sons,  their  wives  and  their  little  ones, 
during  the  prevalence  of  the  famine  against  which  Joseph  had 
provided.  It  is  not  recorded  that  those  wagons  were  drawn  by 
horses  j  but  the  inference  that  such  was  the  fact  is  by  no  means 
irrational,  when  we  remember  that  it  was  during  the  continu- 
ance of  this  famine  that  horses  are  first  mentioned,  having 
been  taken  by  Joseph  in  exchange  for  bread  from  the  Egyp- 
tian  cultivators  and  cattle-breeders  j    that  on  the  death  of 


HIBTORY   OP   THE   HORSE,  10 

Jacob,  his  funeral  was  attended  by  "both  chariots  and  horse- 
men ;"  and  lastly,  that  we  know  from  the  writings  of  Homer, 
and  from  the  ancient  sculptures  of  Persepolis  and  Nineveh, 
that  the  horse  was  used  for  purposes  of  draught  for  some  time 
previous  to  his  being  ridden. 

From  this  time,  the  horse  appears  to  have  been  speedily 
adopted  for  use  in  battle.  At  the  Exodus,  some  fifteen  hun- 
dred years  before  the  Christian  era,  the  pursuing  army  con- 
tained "  six  hundred  chosen  chariots,  and  all  the  chariots  of 
Egypt,"  together  with  all  the  horsemen.  And  when  the 
Israelites  returned  into  Canaan,  we  find  that  the  horse  had 
already  been  naturalized  in  that  country,  since  the  Canaanites 
"  went  out  to  fight  against  Israel  with  horses  and  chariots  very 
many." 

From  these  considerations,  and  from  the  fact  that,  so  late  as 
six  hundred  years  after  this  date,  Arabia  had  still  no  horses,  it 
is  by  no  means  an  improbable  conclusion  that  the  shepherd 
kings  of  Egypt,  whose  origin  is  unknown,  introduced  the  horse 
into  Lower  Egypt;  and  that,  after  this  period,  that  country 
became  the  principal  herding  district  of  this  animal,  whence 
he  was  gradually  introduced  into  Arabia  and  the  adjoining 
Asiatic  countries.  From  the  same  stock  is  doubtless  derived 
the  entire  race  in  all  the  southeastern  parts  of  Europe.  As 
Egypt  is  not,  in  any  respect,  a  favorable  country  for  horse- 
breeding,  still  less  for  his  original  existence  in  a  state  of  na- 
ture, the  source  whence  he  was  first  introduced  into  that  coun- 
try is  in  some  degree  enveloped  in  uncertainty ;  though  the 
better  opinion,  based  upon  much  indirect  testimony,  is  that  he 
was  an  original  native  of  the  soil  of  Africa,  which  alone  was 


20  HISTORY  OF   THE   HORSE. 

the  parent  country  of  the  Zebra  and  the  Quagga — in  some 
sort  his  kin. 

It  is  questionable  whether  the  horse  is  still  to  be  found  in  a 
state  of  nature  in  Arabia ;  although  it  is  asserted  that  they 
exist  thinly  scattered  in  the  deserts,  and  that  they  are  hunted 
by  the  Bedouins  for  their  flesh,  and  also  for  the  purpose  of 
improving  their  inferior  breeds  by  a  different  kind  of  blood. 
In  central  Africa,  however,  whence  the  horse  is  supposed  to 
have  been  first  introduced  into  Egypt,  and  thence  into  Arabia, 
Europe,  and  the  East,  wild  horses  still  roam  untamed  far  to 
the  southward  of  the  great  desert  of  Sahara,  where  they  were 
seen  by  Mungo  Park  in  large  droves. 

At  the  period  of  the  first  Roman  invasion,  the  horse  was 
domesticated  in  Britain,  and  in  such  numbers,  that  a  large 
portion  of  the  forces  which  resisted  the  invaders  were  chariot- 
eers and  cavalry. 

In  Europe,  however,  with  but  few  exceptions,  the  horse, 
for  purposes  of  warfare,  was  slowly,  and  not  till  the  lapse  of 
ages,  brought  into  use :  even  the  Spartans,  the  Athenians, 
and  the  Thebans,  when  at  the  height  of  their  military  renown, 
having  but  inferior  and  scanty  cavalry  services. 

In  the  oldest  sculptures  probably  in  existence, — those  re- 
moved by  Layard  from  the  ruins  of  Nineveh,  and  illustrative 
of  almost  every  phase  of  regal  and  military  life, — the  horse  is 
uniformly  represented  as  a  remarkably  high-crested,  large- 
headed,  heavy-shouldered  animal :  rather  long-bodied  ;  power- 
fully limbed  ;  his  neck  clothed  with  volumes  of  shaggy  mane, 
often  plaited  into  regular  and  fanciful  braids ;  and  his  tail 
coarse  and  abundant,  frequently  ornamented  similarly  to  his 
own  mane  and  to  the  beard  and  hair  of  his  driver — an  ani- 


HISTORY   OF    THE   HORSE. 


^ 


.•'^?<5 


mal,  indeed,  as  unlike  as  possible  to  the  low-statured,  delicate- 
limbed,  small-headed  Arabs  and  barbs  of  modern  days,  with 
their  basin-faces,  large  full  eyes,  and  long,  thin  manes,  from 
which  the  blood-horse  of  our  times  has  derived  his  peculiar 
excellence.  The  same  remarks  may,  in  the  main,  be  made  as 
to  the  Greek  and  Roman  horse,  from 
the  representations  which  have  come 
down  to  us.  The  English  blood-horse, 
beingconfessedl^ 
the  most  perfect 
animal  of  hig 
race  in  the  whole 
world,  both  for 
speed  and  endur- 
ance, and  the 
American  blood- 


THE  SHETLAND  POirr.— AK  ENGLISH  SPOKTINQ  8CEWB. 

horse  directly  tracing  without  mixture  to  English,  and  through 
the  English  to  Oriental  parentage,  some  account  of  the  former 
variety  may  be  of  interest  to  the  reader. 

It  has  already  been  remarked  that  large  numbers  of  horses 
were  found  in  Britain  at  the  first  Koman  invasion.  It  is  to  be 
added,  that  Caesar  ^thought  them  so  valuable  that  he  carried 


22  HISTORT   OF  THE   HORSE.  ^ 

many  of  them  to  Rome  :  and  the  British  horses  were,  for  a 
considerable  period  afterward,  in  great  demand  in  various 
parts  of  the  Roman  Empire.  After  the  evacuation  of  En- 
gland by  the  Romans  and  its  conquest  by  the  Saxons,  consider- 
able attention  was  paid  to  the  English  breed  of  horses ;  and 
after  the  reign  of  Alfred,  running  horses  were  imported  from 
Germany,  this  being  the  first  intimation  given  us  in  history  of 
Tunning  horses  in  England.  English  horses,  after  this,  were 
so  highly  prized  upon  the  Continent,  that,  in  order  to  preserve 
the  monopoly  of  the  breed,  in  a.d.  930  a  law  was  passed,  pro- 
hibiting the  exportation  of  the  animal.  In  Athelstan's  reign 
many  Spanish  horses  were  imported  ;  and  William  the  Con- 
queror introduced  many  fine  animals  from  Normandy,  Flan- 
ders, and  Spain, — circumstances  which  show  the  strong  desire, 
even  at  that  early  period,  to  improve  the  English  breed.  In 
the  reign  of  Henry  I.  is  the  first  account  of  the  importation 
of  the  Arab  horse  into  the  country,  at  which  time  it  is  evident 
that  the  English  had  become  sensible  of  the  value  and  breed 
of  their  horse :  and  in  the  twelfth  century  a  race-course  had 
been  established  in  London, — namely,  Smithfield, — at  once 
horse-market  and  race-course. 

King  John  imported  Flemish  horses  for  the  improvement  of 
the  breed  for  agricultural  purposes ;  and  in  his  reign  is  found 
the  origin  of  the  draught-horse  now  in  general  use  in  that 
country.  Edward  II.  and  Edward  III.  imported  horses  for  the 
improvement  of  the  stock,  the  latter  introducing  fifty  Spanish 
horses.  In  the  reign  of  Henry  YII.,  the  exportation  of  stal- 
lions was  prohibited ;  but  that  of  mares  was  allowed,  when 
more  than  two  years  old,  and  under  the  value  of  six  shillings 
and  eight  pence.     In  the  reign  of  Henry  YIIL,  many  very 


HISTORY   or   THE    HORSE.  23 

arbitrary  statutes  were  passed  for  the  improvement  of  the 
horse ;  and  it  was  during  the  same  period  that  an  annual  race 
was  run  at  Chester.  In  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  the  number 
and  breed  appear  to  have  degenerated  j  for  it  is  stated  that 
she  could  collect  but  three  thousand  horse  throughout  her 
realm  to  resist  the  invasion  of  Don  Philip. 

With  the  accession  of  James  I.  to  the  throne,  a  great  im- 
provement was  systematically  wrought  in  the  English  breed ; 
and  from  this  period  a  constant  and  progressive  attention  was 
paid  to  the  matter  of  breeding.  This  monarch  purchased  an 
Arabian  horse  at  the  then  extraordinary  price  of  five  hun- 
dred pounds ;  but  he  proving  deficient  in  speed,  Arabians 
for  a  time  fell  into  disrepute.  Race  meetings  were  then  held 
at  various  places  (Newmarket,  among  others)  throughout  the 
kingdom,  the  races  being  mostly  matches  against  time,  or  trials 
of  speed  or  bottom  for  absurdly  long  and  cruel  distances. 

Although  Cromwell,  during  his  Protectorate,  was  obliged 
to  forbid  racing,  yet  he  was  an  ardent  lover  of  the  horse,  an 
earnest  patron  of  all  pertaining  to  horsemanship,  and  to  his 
strenuous  exertions  the  present  superior  condition  of  the  En- 
glish blood-horse  is  in  no  small  degree  owing. 

Before  proceeding  to  the  history  of- the  American  horse — 
which  is  our  main  concern  in  the  present  branch  of  this 
work — a  concise  summary  of  the  different  varieties  of  this  use- 
ful quadruped  cannot  fail  to  interest  We  commeiace  with  the 
horse  of  Asia^ 


.%i  HISTORY   OF   THE   HORSE, 


HORSES    OF    ASIA    AND    AFRICA. 


THE    AKABIAN. 

Id  this  country  the  horse,  even  in  its  wild  state,  (in  which 
condition,  as  before  remarked,  it  is  rarely  found,)  is  possessed 
of  a  beautiful  symmetry  of  form,  and  a  disposition  of  the 
greatest  gentleness  and  generosity.  His  size  is  small,  averag- 
ing in  height  generally  between  thirteen  and  fourteen  hands, 
(the  hand  being  reckoned  at  about  four  inches  of  our  measure) ; 
color  a  dappled  grey,  though  sometimes  a  dark  brown ;  mane 
and  tail  short  and  black.  The  only  mode  of  capturing  him  is 
by  snares  carefully  concealed  in  the  sand,  as  his  exceeding 
swiftness  prevents  all  possibility  of  taking  him  by  the  chase. 
The  fondness  of  the  Arab  for  his  steed  is  well  known,  having 
long  since  passed  into  a  proverb.  The  horse  of  the  poorest 
wanderer  of  the  desert  shares  with  his  master  and  his  family 
every  attention  and  caress  which  the  strongest  attachment  can 
prompt.  Mares  are  always  preferred  by  the  Arab  to  horses, 
as  they  endure  fatigue  and  the  hardships  incident  to  a  desert 
life  much  more  patiently,  and  they  can  be  kept  together  in 
greater  numbers  without  the  risk  of  quarrels  and  mutual  in» 
juries.  Great  attention  is  paid  to  the  coat  of  the  animal.  He 
is  carefully  washed  each  morning  and  evening,  or  after  a  long 
ride ;  is  fed  only  during  the  night,  receiving  throughout  the 
day  nothing  but  one  or  two  drinks  of  water. 

The  head  of  the  pure  Arab  is  light,  well  made,  wide  be- 
tween the  nostrils,  forehead  broad,  muzzle  short  and  fine,  nos- 
trils expanded  and  transparent,  eyes  prominent  and  sparkling, 
«ars  small  J  neck  somewhat  short;  shoulders  high  and  well 


HORSES   OF   ASIA    AND   ^FRICA.  25 

thrown  back ;   withers  high  and  arched ;   legs  fine,  flat,  and 
small-boned,  and  the  body  somewhat  light. 


THE    PEKSIAN. 

This  horse  is  slightly  taller  than  the  Arab :  is  full  of  bone, 
and  very  fast.  The  Persian  feeds  his  horse  as  does  the  Arab, 
the  food  given  being  coarse  and  scant.  Hay  is  utterly  un- 
known for  the  purpose,  barley  and  chopped  straw  being  gener- 
ally substituted.  Although  this  variety  is  in  most  respects  less 
esteemed  than  the  Arab,  it  is  in  some  points  its  superior. 


THE    TAKTARIAN. 

Like  the  Persian,  this  variety  is  swift ;  but  the  horses  are 
heavy-headed,  low-shouldered,  and  altogether  very  awkwardly 
put  together.  The  Tartars  eat  the  flesh  of  their  horses  and 
use  the  milk  of  their  mares,  from  which  they  also  make  excel- 
lent cheese. 


THE    TURKOMAN. 

This  is  a  variety  of  the  Tartar,  but  superior  to  it ;  bringing, 
even  in  Persia,  frequently  from  five  hundred  to  a  thousand  dol- 
lars. Its  average  height  is  some  fifteen  hands,  and  in  general 
appearance  it  bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  a  well-bred  En- 
glish carriage-horse.  Though  possessed  of  considerable  speed, 
it  is  not  enduring.  This  variety  is  often  foisted  upon  the 
ignorant  as  the  pure  Arabian. 


THE    TURKISH    HORSE. 

This  horse  is  a  cross  between  the  Persian  and  the  Arabian, 
and  is  of  slender  build,  carrying  his  head  high,  lively  and 
fiery,  and  possessing  a  gentle  and  affectionate  disposition. 
The  tail  of  the  horse  is  regarded  in  Turkey  and  Persia  as  a 


26  HORSES  OP  ASIA  AND  AFRICA. 

badge  of  dignity,  princes  measuring  their  rank  by  the  number 
of  tails  they  carry ;  those  of  the  highest  rank  being  allowed 
three.  

HOESES    OF    HINDOSTAN. 

In  India,  the  horse,  owing  to  the  peculiar  climate  of  the 
country,  is  invariably  found  to  degenerate,  unless  great  atten- 
tion be  paid  to  breeding.  The  principal  breeds  are  the  Tazee, 
the  Takan,  the  Folaree,  the  Cutch,  and  the  Dattywarr. 

Passing  from  the  Asiatic  horses  to  the  African,  it  is  to  be 
remarked  that  Egypt  has  long  since  lost  its  character  as  a 
breeding  country,  its  horses  being  justly  deemed  much  inferior 
to  those  of  Persia,  Barbary,  or  Arabia. 


THE    BARB,    AND    OTHEKS. 

This  variety — the  principal  of  the  African  race — is  taller 
than  the  Arabian,  and  is  remarkable  for  the  height  and  fullness 
of  its  shoulders,  drooping  of  the  haunches,  and  roundness  of 
the  barrel. 

The  Bornou  race,  in  the  central  parts  of  Africa,  is  described 
as  possessing  the  qualities  of  the  Arabian  with  the  beauty  of 
the  Barb ;  as  being  fine  in  shoulder  and  of  general  elegance 
of  form.  The  Nubian  horses  are  stated  by  travelers  to  be 
even  superior  to  the  Arabian.  Dongola  has  a  noticeable 
breed,  of  large  size,  their  chief  peculiarities  being  extreme 
shortness  of  body,  length  of  neck,  height  of  crest,  and  a 
beautiful  forehand. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   HORSE.  27 


EUROPEAN    HORSES. 


THE    RACER. 

As  the  varieties  of  tlie  horse  in  Great  Britain  are  the  most 
noticeable  of  any  in  Europe,  we  append  a  brief  description  of 
the  principal  breeds  at  present  in  use. 

The  Racer,  which  excels,  in  beauty,  speed,  and  endurance, 
that  of  all  other  nations,  was  gradually  formed  by  the  intro- 
duction of  the  best  blood  of  Spain,  Barbary,  Turkey,  and 
Arabia,  and  bears  a  strong  family  likeness  to  each.  The  cha- 
racteristics of  this  breed  are  a  high  and  lofty  head,  bright  and 
fearless  eye,  small  ear,  expanded  nostril ;  arched  neck,  curved 
on  the  upper  surface,  with  no  curve  underneath ;  the  neck 
gracefully  set  on  ;  the  shoulder  lengthened,  oblique,  and  lying 
well  back  ;  the  quarters  ample  and  muscular ;  the  fore-legs 
straight  and  fine,  but  with  suflacient  bone ;  the  hinder  legs 
well  bent,  and  the  pasterns  long  and  springy. 


THE    HUISTTER. 

The  best  horses  of  this  breed  stand  fifteen"  or  sixteen  hands 
high  :  head  small ;  neck  thin,  especially  beneath  the  crest,  firm 
and  arched ;  and  jaws  wide ;  lofty  forehead ;  shoulders  as  ex- 
tensive and  oblique  as  that  of  the  racer,  and  somewhat  thicker; 
broad  chest ;  muscular  arm  ;  leg  shorter  than  that  of  the 
racer ;  body  also  more  short  and  compact ;  loins  broad  ;  quar- 
ters long;  thighs  muscular;  hocks  well  bent,  and  under  the 
horse.  

THE    HACKNEY. 

This  horse  is  still  more  compa/;t  than  the  hunter,  with  more 


2g  EUROPEAN   HORSES. 

substance  in  proportion  to  his  height;  forehead  light  and 
high;  head  small,  and  placed  taperingly  upon  the  neck; 
shoulders  deep  and  spacious,  lying  well  back ;  back  straight, 
loins  strong ;  fillets  wide,  and  withers  well  raised.  Too  high 
breeding  is  considered  objectionable  in  this  species,  as  being 
ill  adapted  for  ordinary  riding  upon  the  road. 

THE    CAKT    HORSE. 

The  principal  varieties  of  this  class,  are  the  Cleveland,  the 
Clydesdale,  the  Northamptonshire,  the  Suffolk  Punch,  and  the 

'^   THH  STALLIOK.  ^^        ^^  ^      ThC  Suffolk  Punch 

originated  by  crossing  the  Suffolk  cart  mare  with  the  Norman 
stallion.  Its  color  is  yellowish  or  sorrel ;  large  head,  wide 
between  the  ears,  muzzle  rather  coarse,  back  long  and  straight, 
sides  flat,  fore-end  low,  shoulders  thrown  much  forward,  high 
at  the  hips,  round  legs,  short  pasterns,  deep-bellied,  and  full 
barrel.     The  modern-bred  cart  horse  of  England,  originated 


EUROPEAN   HORSES,  29 

from  a  cross  with  the  Yorkshire  half-bred  stallion,  and  is  of 
much  lighter  form,  and  stands  much  higher.  This  horse  is 
hardy  and  useful,  kindly,  and  a  good  feeder.  The  heavy 
black  horse  is  chiefly  bred  in  Lincolnshire  and  the  Midland 
counties. 

GEEMAN,   FRENCH,   AND    SPANISH    HORSES. 

The  horses  of  Germany,  with  the  exception  of  the  Hungar- 
ian, are  generally  large,  heavy,  and  slow.  The  Prussian, 
German,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  French  cavalry,  are  pro- 
cured from  Holstein.  They  are  of  a  dark  glossy  bay  color, 
with  small  heads,  large  nostrils,  and  full  dark  eyes,  being 
beautiful,  active,  and  strong. 

The  horses  of  Sweden  and  Finland  are  small,  but  beautiful, 
and  remarkable  for  their  speed  and  spirit ;  those  of  Finland 
being  not  more  than  twelve  hands  high,  yet  trotting  along 
with  ease  at  the  rate  of  twelve  miles  an  hour. 

The  Iceland  horse  is  either  of  Norwegian  or  Scottish 
descent.  They  are  very  small,  strong,  and  swift.  Thousands 
of  them  live  upon  the  mountains  of  that  barren  country,  never 
entering  a  stable,  but  taught  by  instinct  or  habit  to  scrape 
away  the  snow,  or  brenk  the  ice,  in  quest  of  their  meagre  food. 

The  Flemish  and  Dutch  horses  are  large,  and  strongly  and 
beautifully  formed.  The  best  blood  of  draught  horses  is 
owing,  in  a  great  degree,  to  crosses  with  these. 

The  best  French  horses  are  bred  in  Limousin  and  Nor- 
mandy ;  the  provinces  of  Auvergne  and  Poitou  producing 
ponys  and  galloways,  which  are  excellent  saddle-horses  and 
hunters. 

The  Spanish  horse  of  other  days,  as  the  Andalusian  charger 


30  THE   AMERICAN   HORSE. 

and  the  Spanish  jennets,  exists  but  in  history  or  romance. 
The  modern  Spanish  horse  resembles  the  Yorkshire  half-bred, 
with  flatter  legs  and  better  feet,  but  a  far  inferior  figure. 

The  Italian  horses,  particularly  the  Neapolitan,  were  once 
in  high  repute ;  but,  owing  mainly  to  intermixtures  of  Euro- 
pean, rather  than  Eastern  blood,  they  have  sadly  degenerated. 


THE    AMERICAN    HOUSE. 

At  a  very  remote  period  in  the  history  of  America,  the  horse 
began  to  be  imported  from  Europe  by  the  earliest  settlers ;  it 

being  conceded  that,  although 
the  horse  had,  at  some  former 
time,  existed  on  this  continent, 
as  is  proved  by  his  fossil  remains, 
which  have  been  found  in  abund- 
ance in  various  parts  of  the 
country,  he  had  become  extinct 
previous  to  its  colonization  by 
the  white  nations. 

It  is  generally  believed  that 
the  horses  which  are  found   in 

AMERICAN  FARM  SCENE.  .,  ,        ,     ^  ^, 

a  wild  state  on  the  pampas  or 
plains  of  South  America,  and  the  prairies  of  North  America, 
as  far  east  as  to  the  Mississippi  River,  are  the  descendants  of 
the  parents  set  loose  by  the  Spaniards  at  the  abandonment 
of  Buenos  Ayres.  This  opinion,  however,  is  combated  by 
some,  on  the  ground  that  this  date  is  too  recent  to  account 


THE   AMERICAN    HORSE.  3l 

for  the  vast  numerical  increase,  and  the  great  hordes  of  these 
animals  now  existing  in  a  state  of  nature ;  and  they  are  in- 
clined to  ascribe  their  origin  to  animals  escaped,  or  voluntarily 
set  at  liberty,  in  the  earlier  expeditions  and  wars  of  the  Span- 
ish invaders,  the  cavalry  of  that  nation  consisting  entirely  of 
perfect  horses  or  mares. 

An  opportunity  for  such  an  origin  must  undoubtedly  have 
been  furnished  in  the  bloody  wars  of  Mexico  and  Peru ;  since 
upon  the  issue  of  many  battles,  which  were  disastrous  to  the 
Spaniards,  the  war-horses,  their  riders  being  slain,  could  have 
recovered  their  freedom  and  propagated  their  species  rapidly 
in  the  wide,  luxuriant,  and  well-watered  plains,  where  the 
abundance  of  food,  the  genial  climate,  and  the  absence  of 
beasts  of  prey  capable  of  successfully  contending  with  so 
powerful  an  animal  as  the  horse,  would  favor  their  rapid  in- 
crease. 

We  know,  moreover,  that  De  Soto  had  a  large  force  of  cav- 
alry in  that  expedition  in  which  he  discovered  the  Mississippi, 
and  found  a  grave  in  its  bosom  ;  and  when  his  warriors  re- 
turned home  in  barques  which  they  built  on  the  banks  of  the 
"Father  of  waters,"  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  their 
chargers  must  have  been  abandoned,  since  their  slender  vessels, 
built  by  inexperienced  hands  for  the  sole  purpose  of  saving 
their  own  lives,  must  have  been  incapable  of  containing  their 
steeds. 

The  first  horses  imported  to  America  for  the  purpose  of 
creating  a  stock,  were  brought  by  Columbus,  in  1493,  in  his 
second  voyage  to  the  islands.  The  first  landed  in  the  United 
States,  were  introduced  into  Florida  in  152T,  by  Cabeca  de 
Vaca,  forty-two  in  number;  but  these  all  perished  or  were 


32  THE   AMERICAN   HORSE. 

killed.  The  next  importation  was  that  of  De  Soto,  before 
mentioned,  to  which  is  doubtless  to  be  attributed  the  origin  of 
the  wild  horses  of  Texas  and  the  prairies,  a  race  strongly 
marked  to  this  day  by  the  characteristics  of  Spanish  blood. 

In  1604,  L'Escarbot,  a  French  lawyer,  brought  horses  and 
other  domestic  animals  into  Acadia  j  and  in  1608,  the  French, 
then  engaged  in  colonizing  Canada,  introduced  horses  into 
that  country,  where  the  present  race,  though  somewhat  de- 
generated in  size,  owing  probably  to  the  inclemency  of  the 
climate,  still  shows  the  blood,  sufficiently  distinct,  of  the 
Norman  and  Breton  breeds. 

In  1609,  the  English  ships  landing  at  Jamestown,  in  Vir- 
ginia, brought,  besides  swine,  sheep,  and  cattle,  six  mares  and 
a  horse ;  and  in  1657,  the  importance  of  increasing  the  stock 
of  this  valuable  animal  was  so  fully  recognized,  that  an  act 
was  passed,  prohibiting  its  exportation  from  the  province. 

In  1629,  horses  and  mares  were  brought  into  the  plantations 
of  Massachusetts  Bay,  by  one  Francis  Higginson,  formerly  of 
Leicestershire,  England,  from  which  county  many  of  the 
animals  were  imported.  New  York  first  received  its  horses  in 
1625,  imported  from  Holland  by  the  Dutch  West  India  Com- 
pany, probably  of  the  Flanders  breed,  though  few  traces  of 
that  breed  yet  exist,  unless  they  are  to  be  found  in  the  Cones- 
toga  horse  of  Pennsylvania,  which  shows  some  affinity  to  it, 
either  directly  or  through  the  English  dray-horse,  which  latter 
is  believed  to  be  originally  of  Flemish  origin. 

In  1750,  the  French  of  Illinois  procured  considerable  num- 
bers of  French  horses;  and  since  that  time,  as  the  science  of 
agriculture  has  improved  and  advanced,  pure  animals  of  many 
distinct  breeds  have  been  constantly  imported  into  this  country, 


TilK   AMERICAN   HURSE.  33 

which  have  created  in  different  sections  and  districts  distinct 
families,  easily  recognized, — as  the  horses  of  Massachusetts 
and  Vermont,  admirable  for  their  qualities  as  draft-horses, 
powerful,  active,  and  capable  of  quick  as  well  as  heavy  work ; 
the  Conestogas,  excellent  for  ponderous,  slow  efforts,  in  team- 
ing and  the  like  ;  and  the  active,  wiry  horses  of  the  West,  well 
adapted  for  riding,  and  being  in  most  general  use  for  American 
cavalry  purposes. 

It  is  evident,  then,  that  the  original  stock  of  the  unimproved 
American  horse  is  the  result  of  a  mixture  of  breeds;  the 
French,  the  Spanish,  the  Flemish,  and  the  English  horses 
having  all  sent  their  representatives  to  some  one  portion  at 
least,  of  the  United  States  and  British  Provinces,  and  proba- 
bly still  prevailing  to  a  considerable  degree  in  some  locations, 
though  nowhere  wholly  unmixed — while,  in  others,  they  have 
become  so  thoroughly  mixed  and  amalgamated,  that  their 
identity  can  no  longer  be  discovered. 

In  New  York,  for  example,  the  early  importations  of  tho- 
rough blood,  and  the  constant  support  of  horse-racing,  appear 
to  have  so  changed  the  original  Dutch  or  Flemish  stock,  that 
the  characteristic  of  her  horses  is  that  of  the  English  race, 
with  a  decided  admixture  of  good  blood.  In  Massachusetts, 
Vermont,  and  the  Eastern  States  generally,  the  Cleveland  bay, 
and  a  cross  between  that  and  the  English  dray-horse  blood, 
with  some  small  admixture  of  thorough  blood,  predominate. 
In  Pennsylvania,  the  most  distinct  breed  appears  to  be  of 
Flemish  and  English  dray-horse  origin.  In  Maryland,  Vir- 
ginia, and  South  Carolina,  English  thorough  blood  prevails  to 
a  great  extent ;  so  much  so  as  to  render  the  inferior  class  of 

working  horses  undersized.     In  Louisiana,  and   many  of  the 
S 


34  THE   AMERICAN    HORSE. 

Western  States,  French  and  Spanish  blood  partly  prevail, 
though  with  a  mixture  of  English  blood.  It  may,  in  short,  be 
generally  assumed  that,  with  the  exception  of  the  thorough- 
breds, there  is  scarcely  any  breed  in  any  part  of  America 
wholly  pure  and  unmixed  ;  and  that  there  are  very  few  animals 
anywhere,  which  have  not  some  mixture,  greater  or  less,  of 
the  hot  blood  of  the  East,  transmitted  through  the  English 
race-horse. 

Indeed,  with  the  exception  of  the  Conestoga  horse,  there  is, 
in  the  United  States,  no  purely-bred  draft  or  cart-horse,  nor 
any  breed  which  is  kept  entirely  for  labor  in  the  field  or  on 
the  road,  without  a  view  to  being  used  at  times  for  quicker 
work,  and  for  purposes  of  pleasure  or  travel.  Every  horse, 
for  the  most  part,  bred  in  America,  is  intended  to  be,  in  some 
sense,  used  upon  the  road  ;  and  it  is  but  asserting  a  well-known 
fact,  when  we  say,  that  for  docility,  temper,  soundness  of  con- 
stitution, endurance  of  fatigue,  hardiness,  sure-footedness.  and 
speed,  the  American  roadster  is  not  to  be  excelled,  if  equaled, 
by  any  horse  in  the  entire  world  not  purely  thorough-bred. 

Of  roadsters,  two  or  three  families  have  obtained,  in  diflferent 
localities,  decided  reputations  for  different  peculiar  qualities  : 
such  as  the  Narragansett  pacers,  the  families  known  as  the 
Morgan  and  Black  Hawk,  the  Canadian,  and  generally  what 
may  be  called  trotters.  No  one  of  these,  however,  with  the 
single  exception  of  the  Narragan setts,  appears  to  have  any 
real  claim  to  be  deemed  a  distinctive  family,  or  to  be  regarded 
as  capable  of  transmitting  its  qualities  in  line  of  hereditary 
descent,  by  breeding  within  itself,  without  further  crosses  with 
higher  and  hotter  blood. 

Of  the  Narragansetts,  but  little  can  be  said  with  certainty ; 


THE   AMERICAN   HORSE. 


a5k 


for  there  is  reason  to  believe  that,  as  a  distinct  variety,  with 
natural  powers  of  pacing,  they  are  extinct ;  and  their  origin 
is,  in  some  degree,  uncertain.  The  other  families  clearly  owe 
their  merits  to  a  remote  infusion  of  thorough-blood,  perhaps 
amounting  to  one-fourth,  or  one-third  part,  some  three  or  four 
generations  back. 

The  original  Canadians  were,  doubtless,  of  pure  Norman 
and  Breton  descent;  but,  since  the  Canadas 
have  been  under  British  rule,  they  also 


THE  CANADIAN. 


have  been  largely  mixed  with,  and  much  improved  by,  the  intro- 
duction of  a  pure  blood  ;  so  that  the  animals  which  in  late 
years  pass  here  under  the  name  of  Canadians,  such  as  Moscow, 
Lady  Moscow,  and  many  others  of  that  name,  are  Canadians 
only  in  name,  differing  from  other  American  roadsters  simply 
lu  the  fact  that  they  have,  for  the  most  part,  only  two  crosses. 


36  THE   AMERICAN    HORSE. 

of  the  Norman  and  pure  English  blood,  while  the  ordinary 
road-horse  of  the  United  States  is  perhaps  a  combination  of 
several  distinct  English  families,  with  French,  Spanish,  and 
Flemish  crovsses,  besides  an  infusion  of  thorough-blood. 

Of  trotters,  there  is  certainly  no  distinctive  breed  or  family, 
or  mode  of  breeding.  The  power,  the  style,  the  action,  the 
mode  of  going,  are  the  points  regarded ;  and  it  is  most  prO' 
bable,  that  the  speed  and  the  endurance,  both  of  weight  and 
distance,  depend,  more  or  less,  on  the  greater  or  inferior 
degree  of  blood  in  the  animal. 

Indeed,  the  wonderful  superiority  of  the  American  roadster 
is  attributable  to  the  great  popularity  of  trotting  in  this 
country,  to  the  great  excellence  of  the  trotting-trainers,  drivers, 
and  riders,  arising  from  that  popularity,  and  to  the  employ- 
ment of  all  the  very  best  half  and  three-quarter-part  bred 
horses  in  the  land  for  trotting  purposes,  none  being  turned 
from  that  use  for  the  hunting-field  or  park-riding. 

The  general  American  horse,  as  compared  with  the  English 
horse,  is  inferior  in  height  of  the  forehand,  in  the  loftiness  and 
thinness  of  the  withers,  and  in  the  setting-on  and  carriage  of 
the  neck  and  crest;  while  he  is  superior  in  the  general  develop- 
ment of  his  quarters,  in  the  let-down  of  his  hams,  and  in  his 
height  behind ;  and  further  remarkable  for  his  formation,  ap- 
proaching what  is  often  seen  in  the  Irish  horse,  and  known  as 
the  goose-rump.  Even  the  American  racer  stands  very  much 
higher  behind  and  lower  before  than  his  English  fellow. 

Another  point  in  which  the  American  horse  of  all  conditions 
differs  extremely  and  most  advantageously  from  the  European 
animal,  is  his  greater  sure-footedness  and  freedom  from  the 
dangerous  vice  of  stumbling.     Any  one  can  satisfactorily  con- 


THE    AMERICAN    HORSE.  8Y 

Tince  himself  of  this,  by  comparing  tlie  knees  of  hack-horses 
let  for  hire,  either  in  the  cities  or  rural  villages  of  the  United 
States,  with  those  of  similar  English  localities.  In  this  coun- 
try, a  broken  knee  is  one  of  the  very  rarest  blemishes  encoun- 
tered in  a  horse  ;  while  of  horses  let  for  hire  in  England,  with 
the  exception  of  those  let  by  a  few  crack  livery-keepers  in 
London,  in  the  Universities,  and  in  one  or  two  other  of  the 
most  important  towns  in  hunting  •  neighborhoods,  a  majority 
are  decidedly  broken-kneed. 

The  exemption  of  the  horse,  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic, 
from  this  fault,  is  ascribable :  first,  to  the  fact,  that  both  the 
pasture-lands  and  the  roads  here  are  far  rougher,  more  broken 
in  surface,  and  more  interrupted  by  stones,  stumps,  and  other 
obstacles,  than  in  the  longer  cultivated  and  more  finished  coun- 
tries of  Europe,  which  teaches  young  horses  to  bend  their 
knees,  and  throw  their  legs  more  freely  while  playing  with  the 
dams  in  the  field ;  and  also  to  lift  and  set  down  their  feet  with 
much  greater  caution  even  on  our  great  thoroughfares ; 
secondly,  to  the  higher  blood  and  breed  of  riding-horses  in 
England,  which  are  often  cantering  thorough  breds,  liable  to 
be  unsafe  travelers  on  the  road ;  and  lastly,  to  the  well-known 
circumstance,  that  most  of  the  hired  horses  are  roadsters — these 
are  worn-out  or  broken-down  animals  of  a  higher  caste,  which 
are  deemed,  by  reason  of  their  disqualification  for  a  higher 
position,  fit  for  a  secondary  one,  although  suited  to  none,  and 
dangerous  in  any. 

To  this  admirable  quality  of  the  American  horse,  must  be 
added  his  extreme  good  temper  and  docility,  in  which  he  un- 
deniably excels  any  other  horse  in  the  world.  From  the  first 
childhood  of  the  animal  until  he  is  fully  put  to  work,  he  re- 


88  THE   AMERICAN   HORSE 

quires  and  receives  little  or  no  breakinrr,  unless  he  show  quali- 
ties wliieli  promise  such  speed  or  endurance  as  to  render  it 
advisable  to  train  him  as  a  trotter.  Even  when  this  is  done, 
it  is  for  the  purpose  of  developing  his  povv'ers,  getting  him  to 
exert  himself  to  the  utmost,  and  teaching  him  how  to  move  to 
the  best  advantage ;  and  not  to  render  him  submissive,  easy  of 
management,  or  gentle  to  be  handled.  There  is  scarcely  ever 
any  difficulty  in  saddling,  in  harnessing,  in  backing,  or  in  in- 
ducing him  to  go.  He  may  be  awkward  at  first,  uncouth,  shy, 
and  timid ;  but  he  is  never,  one  may  almost  say,  violent,  spas- 
modic in  his  actions,  and  fierce. 

It  is  true  that  horses  are  treated,  for  the  most  part,  with 
superior  judgment  and  greater  humanity  in  the  United  States; 
that  the  whip  is  little  used,  and  the  spur  almost  unknown; 
still  the  whole  of  this  remarkable  difference  in  temper,  on  the 
part  of  the  American  horse,  cannot  be  attributed  to  the  differ- 
ence of  treatment. 

As  lie  begins,  moreover,  he  continues  to  the  end.  One 
rarely  encounters  a  kicker,  a  runaway,  an  inveterate  shyer  or 
balker,  and  hardly  ever  a  furious  animal,  not  to  be  approached, 
save  at  the  risk  of  limb  or  life,  in  an  American  horse  of  any 
class  or  condition. 

Probably  this  fact  may,  in  some  respects,  be  attributed  to 
the  less  high  strain  of  blood  in  the  American  roadster,  and 
still  more  to  the  hardier  and  less  stimulating  mode  of  treatment 
to  which  he  is  subjected.  The  heating  treatment  to  which  the 
English  horse  is  subjected,  unquestionably  deprives  him,  in 
some  degree,  of  the  power  of  enduring  long-protracted  exer- 
tion, privation,  hardship,  and  the  inclemency  of  the  weather; 
and   the   pampering,  high   feeding,   excessive   grooming,   and 


THE   AMERICAN   BLOOD-HORSE.  89 

general  maintenance  of  horses  in  an  unnatural  and  excited 
state  of  spirits  has,  assuredly,  an  injurious  effect  upon  the 
general  temper  of  the  animal ;  though  not,  perhaps,  so  greatly 
as  to  account  for  all  the  difference  to  which  allusion  has  just 
been  made. 

Having  premised  thus  much,  in  general  terras,  of  the  history 
and  poculiarities  of  the  general  American  horse,  we  will  next 
take  up  the  leading  varieties  which  obtain  in  this  country, 
commencing  with 

THE    AMEKICAN    BLOOD-HOKSE. 

Unlike  the  human  race  of  the  United  States,  unlike  the 
ordinary  working  horse,  unlike  the  cattle  and  most  of  the  do- 
mestic animals  of  North  America — which  cannot  be  traced  or 
said  to  belong  to  any  single  distinct  breed  or  family,  having 
originated  from  the  combination  and  amalgamation  of  many 
bloods  and  stocks,  derived  from  many  different  countries — the 
blood-horse,  or  racer,  of  America  stands  alone,  unquestionably 
of  pure  English  thorough-blood. 

What  that  English  thorough-blood  is,  it  is  onlj^  necessary 
here  to  say  that,  although  it  is  not  possible,  in  every  instance, 
to  trace  the  great  progenitors  of  the  English  and  American 
turf,  directly  on  both  sides,  to  Desert  blood ;  and  although  it 
can  scarcely  be  doubted  that,  in  the  very  commencement  of 
turf-breeding,  there  must  have  been  some  mixture  of  the  best 
old  English  blood,  probably,  in  great  part,  Spanish  by  descent, 
with  the  true  Arab  or  Barb  race ;  yet  the  impure  admixture 
is  so  exceedingly  remote,  not  within  fourteen  or  fifteen  genera- 
tions— since  which  the  smallest  taint  has  been  carefully  ex- 
cluded— that   the    present   race-horse    of  England    or   Xorth 


40  THE  AMERICAN   BLOOD-HORSE. 

America,  cannot  possess  above  one  sixteen-thousandth  part  of 
any  other  blood  than  that  of  the  Desert. 

Nor  can  it  be  doubted,  that  the  modern  thorough-bred  is 
far  superior  to  the  present  horse  of  the  East  in  his  qualities 
and  powers,  as  he  is  in  size,  bone,  strength,  and  ability  to 
carry  weight.  It  is  to  this  very  superiority  of  our  thorough- 
bred, which  has  been  proved  wherever  it  has  encountered  the 
Oriental  horse,  that  it  must  be  ascribed,  that  no  late  cross  of 
Arab  blood  has,  in  the  slightest  degree,  improved  the  Euro- 
pean or  American  racer. 

It  seems  now  to  be  a  conceded  point,  that  to  improve  any 
Mood,  the  sire  must  be  the  superior  animal ;  and,  since  by  care, 
cultivation,  superior  food,  and  better  management,  our  descend- 
ant of  Desert  blood  has  been  developed  into  an  animal  supe- 
rior to  his  progenitors,  mares  of  the  improved  race  can  gain 
nothing  by  being  crossed  with  the  original  stock ;  although  it 
is  yet  to  be  seen,  whether  something  might  not  be  effected  by 
the  importation  of  Oriental  mares,  and  breeding  them  judiciously 
to  modern  thorough-bred  stallions. 

It  has  been  already  stated,  that  the  first  systematic  attempts 
at  improving  the  blood  of  the  English  horse  began  in  the  reign 
of  King  James  I.,  was  continued  in  that  of  Charles  I.  and 
during  the  Commonwealth,  and  advanced  with  renewed  spirit 
on  the  restoration  of  the  Stuarts.  In  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne, 
the  last  of  that  house  who  occupied  the  English  throne,  the 
English  thorough-bred  horse  may  be  regarded  as  fairly  estab- 
lished ;  the  Darley  Arabian,  sire  of  Flying  Childers,  Curwen's 
Barb,  and  Lord  Carlisle's  Turk,  sire  of  the  Bald  Galloway, 
being  imported  in  her  reign.  Sixteen  years  after  her  death, 
and  three  years  before  the  settlement  of  Georgia,  the  youngest 


THE    AMERICAX    ELOOE-HORSE.  H 

of  the  original  American  colonies,  twenty-one  foreign,  and  fifty 
native  stallions,  some  of  them  the  most  celebrated  horses  which 
the  world  has  ever  seen,  were  in  service  as  stock-getters  in  the 
United  Kingdom ;  and  from  some  of  these  are  descended  all 
our  racers  of  the  present  day. 

It  was  precisely  during  this  period  that  the  American  colo- 
nies were  planted  ;  and,  as  might  be  anticipated,  English  horses 
of  pure  blood  were  introduced  at  a  very  early  date.  Indeed, 
in  those  sections  where  the  settlement  was  mainly  effected  by 
men  attached  to  the  Cavalier  party,  race-horses  were  kept  and 
trained,  race-courses  were  established,  and  a  well-authenticated 
stock  of  thorough-bred  animals,  tracing  to  the  most  celebrated 
English  sires,  many  of  which  were  imported  in  the  early  part 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  was  in  existence  for  some  time  before 
the  outbreak  of  the  old  French  war. 

In  the  Eastern  States,  whose  settlers  were  mainly  attached 
to  the  Puritan  party,  and  therefore  opposed  in  an  especial  man- 
ner to  horse-racing,  very  few  horses  of  thorough  blood  were  im- 
ported. 

In  Virginia  and  Maryland,  as  the  head-quarters  of  the  Cav- 
aliers, it  is  probable  that  racing  commenced  simultaneously,  or 
nearly  so ;  it  being  an  attribute  of  the  principal  towns  of 
Maryland  some  years  prior  to  Braddock^s  defeat  in  17 53. 
In  the  latter  State,  indeed,  it  appears  for  some  time  to  have 
been  considered  a  part  of  the  duty  of  the  Governor  to  keep  a 
racing  stud  ;  since  no  less  than  five  successive  governors  were 
all  determined  turfmen  and  supporters  of  the  American  racing 
interest. 

As  our  Revolutionary  War  interrupted  the  peaceful  progress 
of  the  country  and  the  avocations  of  our  country  gentlemen  at 


42  THE  AMERICAN   BLOOD-HORSE. 

SO  early  a  period  in  the  history  of  the  American  Turf,  the  dif- 
ficulty of  ascertaining  how  far  records  or  registries  have  been 
preserved,  or  were  kept  from  the  first,  has  been  materially  en- 
hanced. Yet,  on  the  whole,  it  may  be  regarded  as  remarkable 
rather  that  so  many  pedigrees  can  be  unequivocally  followed 
out,  than  that  a  few  should  be  obscure  and  untraceable  farther 
than  to  an  imported  mare.  Indeed,  it  must  be  granted  as  a  fact 
which  cannot  be  questioned  or  doubted,  fully  established  both 
by  their  own  performances  and  by  the  unfailing  transmission  of 
their  hereditary  qualities,  that  our  American  horses  are  as  cer- 
tainly thorough-bred  as  are  any  of  those  English  champions, 
whose  blood  no  one  ever  dreams  of  disputing,  which  go  back, 
like  that  of  Eclipse  himself,  or  many  others  of  equal  renown,  to 
an  unknown  dam  or  sire. 

From  Virginia  and  Maryland,  the  racing  spirit  extended 
rapidly  into  the  Carolinas,  where  it  has  never  to  this  day  flagged. 
The  oldest  race-courses  in  this  country,  which  are  yet  kept  up 
for  purposes  of  sport,  are  the  Newmarket  course,  near  Peters- 
burg, Virginia ;  and  the  Washington  course,  near  Charleston, 
South  Carolina.  At  Alexandria,  D.  C,  there  was  a  race-course 
early  in  the  last  century,  and  -the  courses  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Richmond  have  been  in  existence  above  seventy  years. 

It  was  not  until  about  the  commencement  of  the  present  cen- 
tury, that  what  njay  be  called  race-courses  proper  were  estab- 
lished in  New  York ;  the  first  club  for  the  promotion  of  the  breed 
of  horses  by  means  of  racing  dating  from  1804;  although  long 
previously  the  improvement  of  the  breed  of  horses  had  created 
much  interest  in  that  State,  celebrated  stock-getters  having 
been  imported  as  early  as  IT 64  and  1765, 

Into  Pennsylvania,  a  State  which  has  never  particularly  dis- 


THE   AMERICAN    BLOOD-HORSE. 


43 


tinguished  itself  in  the  racing  turf,  were  brought  at  an  early- 
date  two  horses,  Graj  Northumberland  (also  called  Irish  Gray), 
and  Old  England  ;  to  these  must  be  given  the  credit  of  running 
one  of  the  oldest  great  American  time-races  on  record,  as  long 
ago  as  1767,  against  two  other  horses,  Selim  and  Granby. 

Although  the  use  of  the   horse  for  merely  racing  purposes 

does  not  at  present  obtain  to  as  great  an  extent  with  ns  as  in 

England — a  circumstance  which  can  be  readily  accounted  for 

_d^^mM^.  from   the  prejudice  which  many  entertain 


BLACK  HAWK— AN  AMERICAN  RACER, 


against  such  a  use,  owing  to  the  objectionable  accompaniments 
which  are  too  often  found  in  connection  with  it — still  it  should 
not  be  forgotten,  that  the  advantage  to  be  derived  from  the 
thorough-bred  horse  depends  upon  far  more  than  his  applica- 
bility to  the  turf  and  his  fitness  for  racing  purposes.  "VYere  it 
otherwise,  it  would  scarcely  be  worth  while  to  devote  the  space 


44  THE   AMERICAN   BLOOD-HORSE. 

to  the  consideration  of  this  topic  which  has,  by  common  con- 
sent, been  deemed  indispensable. 

The  truth  is,  that  the  race-course  was  not,  in  the  beginning, 
so  much  as  thought  of  as  a  bcene  for  the  dispLay  of  the  high 
qualities  of  this  animal ;  much  less  was  racing  considered  by 
our  ancestors  as  an  end  for  which  they  imported  the  Eastern 
horse  into  Europe.  It  was  for  the  improvement  of  the  native 
stock  of  horses  in  the  various  European  Kingdoms,  by  giving 
to  them  speed  and  endurance, — in  which  respects  no  other  breed 
can  compare  with  them, — that  the  Asiatic  and  Nonh-African 
horse  was  so  eagerly  sought  by  the  monarchs,  especially  of  Eng- 
land, during  the  seventeenth,  and  the  early  part  of  the  eigh- 
teenth centur3^ 

The  race-course  was  at  first  employed  solely  as  a  method  of 
testing  the  prevalence  or  superiority,  in  certain  animals  or 
breeds  of  animals,  of  these  qualities  of  speed  and  endurance, 
which  can  by  no  other  known  method  be  so  completely,  so  accu- 
rately, and  so  fairly  tested.  Soon  after  the  introduction  of  the 
thorough-bred  horse,  this  process  of  testing  his  qualities  grew 
into  a  favorite  sport  with  all  classes  of  persons  in  England. 
After  the  multiplication  of  race-courses  throughout  the  king- 
dom and  the  establishment  of  racing  as  a  national  institution, 
the  objects  of  the  possessors  and  breeders  of  race-horses  under- 
went a  change  :  what  had  been  a  means  originally,  becoming 
eventually,  more  or  less,  the  end.  Horses,  in  a  high  form  and 
of  the  most  favorite  and  purest  strains  of  blood,  were  eagerly 
sought  and  comi^nanded  large  prices,  for  the  purposes  of  sport  and 
honorable  competition,  as  was  the  case  in  the  Olympic  Games 
of  ancient  Greece. 

At  a  yet  later  date,  a  second  change  of  object  has  taken 


THE   AMERICAN   BLOOD-HORSE.  45 

place  ;  and,  with  but  few  exceptions,  the  thorough-bred  horse  is 
now  kept,  both  in  England  and  this  country,  for  the  paramount 
purpose  of  money-making,  either  by  the  actual  winning  of  his 
prizes,  or  by  his  service  in  the  stud,  after  his  racing  career  is 
ended. 

Still,  although  the  animals  employed  may  be  generally  kept 
merely  for  the  gratification  of  cupidity  and  the  excitement  of 
the  contest,  and  thougli  racing  and  race-courses  may  be  subject 
to  abuses  by  far  too  many,  yet  such  means  are,  even  now,  as 
tliey  were  intended  lo  i)e  from  the  first,  the  best  and  only  mode 
of  really  improving  the  general  stock  of  any  country.  As  the 
points  of  the  thorough-bred  horse  are  precisely  those  which 
constitute  the  perfection  of  a  blood-horse  in  a  high  form  as  a 
stallion  for  improving  the  breed  of  animals,  and  for  getting  the 
best  horses  from  any  possible  cl-ass  of  mares,  for  all  possible  uses, 
unless  for  the  very  slowest  and  most  ponderous  draught,  the  de- 
scription of  those  points  which  are  most  generally  accepted  as 
accurate  is  subjoined. 

Purity  of  blood  is  an  indispensable  requisite  for  the  thorough- 
bred horse.  By  the  term  "blood,"  it  is  not  intended  to  be  un- 
derstood that  there  is  any  real  difference  between  the  blood  of 
the  thorough-bred  horse  and  that  of  the  half-bred  animal,  as  no 
one  could  discriminate  between  the  two  by  any  known  process. 
The  terra  Is  here  used  in  the  same  sense  as  "breed,"  and  by 
purity  of  blood  is  meant  purity  in  the  breeding  of  the  individual 
animal  under  consideration  ;  that  is  to  say,  that  the  horse 
which  is  entirely  bred  from  any  one  source  is  pure,  or  free  from 
any  mixture  with  others,  and  may  be  a  pure  Suffolk  Punch,  or 
a  pure  Clydesdale,  or  a  pure  thorough-bred  horse.  All  these 
terms  are,  however,  comparative,  since  there  is  no  such  animal 


46  THE   AMERICAN   BLOOD-HORSE. 

as  a  perfectly  purely-bred  horse  of  any  breed,  whether  cart-horse, 
hack,  or  race-horse ;  all  have  been  produced  from  an  admixture 
with  other  breeds,  and  though  now  kept  as  pure  as  possible,  yet 
they  were  originally  compounded  of  varying  elements.  As, 
however,  the  thorough-bred  horse  as  he  is  called,  has  long  been 
bred  for  racing  purposes,  and  selections  have  been  made  with 
that  view  alone,  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  this  breed  is 
the  best  for  that  purpose,  and  that  a  stain  of  any  other  is  a  de- 
viation from  the  classical  stream  into  one  more  muddy,  and 
therefore  impure.  Indeed,  in  actual  practice  this  is  found  to  be 
the  case ;  for  in  every  instance  it  has  resulted  that  the  horse 
bred  with  the  slightest  deviation  from  the  sources  indicated  by 
the  stud-book,  is  unable  to  compete  in  lasting  power  with  those 
which  are  entirely  of  that  breed.  Hence  it  is  established  as  a 
rule,  that  for  racing  purposes  every  horse  must  be  thorough-bred  j 
that  is,  bred  of  a  sire  and  dam,  whose  names  are  found  in  the 
stud-book. 

The  external  form  of  the  blood-horse  is  of  great  importance ; 
it  being  true,  other  things  being  equal,  that  the  horse  will 
be  the  best  runner  which  is  formed  in  the  mould  most  like  that 
of  the  greatest  number  of  good  race-horses.  Still,  it  is  ad- 
mitted on  the  turf,  that  high  breeding  is  of  more  consequence 
than  external  shape,  and  that,  of  two  horses,  one  perfect  in 
shape  but  of  an  inferior  strain  of  blood,  and  the  other  of  the 
most  winning  blood,  but  in  shape  not  so  well  formed,  the  latter 
will  be  the  most  likely  to  give  satisfaction  on  the  race-course. 
Hence  originates  the  proverb,  "  an  ounce  of  blood  is  worth 
a  pound  of  bone."  Yet,  in  spite  of  all  this  recognized  superi- 
ority of  blood,  it  is  indisputable  that  for  the  highest  degree  of 
success  there  must  be  not  only  high  purity  of  blood,  and  that 


THE   AMERICAN   BLOOD-UORSE. 


4t 


of  the  most  winning  strains,  but  there  must  also  be  a  frame  of 
the  most  useful  character,  if  not  always  of  the  most  elegant 
form.  Many  of  our  very  best  horses  have  been  plain  and  even 
coarse-looking ;  but,  in  spite  of  their  plainness,  all  their  points 
w^ere  good  and  useful,  and  the  deficiency  was  in  mere  elegance, 
pot  in  real  utility. 

The  height  of  the  race-horse  varies  from  fifteen  hands  to 
sixteen  and  a  half  hands,  or  even  seventeen  hands ;  but  the 
general  height  of  our  best  horses,  is  about  fifteen  hands  and 
three  inches.  Few  first-class  performers  have  exceeded  the 
heighi  of  sixteen  hands  and  one  incii.  The  average,  above  given, 
may  be  fairly  laid  down  as  the  best  height  for  the  race-horse ; 
though  it  cannot  be  denied,  that  for  some  small  and  confined 
courses,  a  smaller  horse,  of  little  more  than  fifteen  hands  high, 
has  a  better  chance,  as  being  more  capable  of  turning  round 
the  constantly  recurring  angles  or  bends. 

The  head  and  neck  should  be  characterized  by  lightness, 
which  is  essential  for  this  department.     Whatever  is  unneces- 
sary  is    so    much   dead 
P  weight ;  and  whatever  is 
found  in  the 
head     and 
neck,   which 
is  not  neces- 
sary for  the 
peculiar  pur- 
poses of  the 

AMERICAN  PLAJTTATION  SCENE.  TaCC-horSC,  iS 

BO  much  weight  thrown  away,  which  must  still  be  carried  by 
the  horse.     The  head,  we  may  say  in   detail,  should  be  lean 


48  THE   AMERICAN    BLOOD- HOUSE.  . 

about  tlie  jaw,  yet  with  a  full  development  of  forehead,  which 
should  be  convex  and  wide,  so  as  to  contain  within  the  skull 
a  good  volume  of  brain.  If  this  fullness  exist,  all  the  rest  of 
the  head  may  be  as  fine  as  possible  ;  the  jav/s  being  reduced  to 
a  fin^  muzzle,  with  a  slight  hollowing  out  in  front,  but  with  a 
width  between  the  two  sides  of  the  lower  jaw  where  it  joins 
the  neck,  so  as  to  allow  plenty  of  room  for  the  top  of  the 
windpipe  when  the  neck  is  bent.  The  ears  should  be  pricked 
and  fine,  but  not  too  short ;  eyes  full  and  spirited  ;  nostrils 
large,  and  capable  of  being  well  dilated  when  at  full  speed, 
which  is  easily  tested  by  the  gallop,  after  which  they  ought  to 
stand  out  firmly,  and  so  as  to  show  the  internal  lining  fully. 
The  neck  should  be  muscular,  and  yet  light;  the  windpipe 
loose  and  separate  from  the  neck, — that  is,  not  too  tightly 
bound  down  by  the  membrane  of  the  neck.  The  crest  should 
be  thin  and  wiry,  not  thick  and  loaded,  as  is  often  seen  in 
coarse  stallions,  or  even  in  some  mares. 

Between  the  two  extremes  of  the  ewe-neck  and  its  opposite, 
there  are  many  degrees,  but  for  racing  purposes  the  former 
is  preferable  of  the  two,  to  the  latter ;  for  few  horses  can  go 
well  with  their  necks  bent  so  as  to  draw  the  chin  to  the  bosom  ; 
yet  here,  as  in  other  cases,  the  happy  medium  between  the 
two  extremes  is  the  most  desirable. 

The  body,  or  middle-piece,  should  be  moderately  long,  and 
not  too  much  confined  between  the  last  rib  and  the  hip  bone. 
So  long  as  the  last  or  back-ribs  are  deep,  it  is  not  of  so  much 
importance  that  they  should  be  closely  connected  to  the  hip- 
bone, for  such  a  shape  shortens  the  stride ;  and  though  it 
enables  the  horse  to  carry  a  great  weight,  yet  it  prevents  him 
from  attaining  a  high  rate  of  speed.     The  back  itself  should 


THE   AMERICAN   BLOOD-HORSE.  49 

^e  muscular,  and  the  hips  so  ^Yicle  as  to  allow  of  a  good  de- 
velopment of  the  muscular  department.  The  withers  may  rise 
gently,  but  not  too  high,  with  that  thin,  razor-like  elevation 
which  many  people  call  a  good  shoulder,  but  which  really  has 
nothing  to  do  with  that  part,  and  is  only  an  annoyance  to  the 
saddler,  in  preventing  its  being  pinched  by  the  saddle.  The  chest 
itself  should  be  vvell  developed,  but  not  too  wide  and  deep  ;  no 
horse  can  go  a  good  distance  without  a  fair  "bellows-room;" 
but,  supposing  the  beast  to  be  sound  and  of  good  quality,  the 
amount  of  lungs  will  suffice  which  may  be  contained  in  a 
medium-sized  chest,  and  all  above  that  is  wasted,  and  is  extra 
weight.  Many  of  our  best-winded  horses  have  had  medium- 
sized  chests,  and  some  of  the  very  worst  have  been  furnished 
with  room  enough  for  a  blacksmith's  bellows  to  play  in.  If 
the  heart  only  does  its  duty  well,  the  lungs  can  always  furnish 
sufTicient  air  ;  and  we  know  that  when  frequently  renewed,  and 
with  sulncient  power,  the  blood  is  aerated  as  fast  as  it  is  pro- 
pelled, and  the  chief  difficulty  lies  in  this  power  of  propulsion^ 
which  resides  in  the  heart  alone.  If  the  chest  be  too  wide,  it 
materially  affects  the  action  of  the  fore-legs,  and,  therefore,  in 
every  point  of  view,  theoretically  and  practically,  there  is  a 
happy  medium  between  the  too  great  contraction  in  this  de- 
partment, and  the  heavy,  wide,  lumbering  chests,  sometimes 
seen  even  in  the  tliorough-bred  race-horse,  especially  when 
reared  upon  rich  succulent  herbage,  more  fitted  for  the  bullock 
than  for  the  Eastern  horse.  In  the  formation  of  the  hips,  the 
essential  point  is  length  and  breadth  of  bone  for  muscular  at- 
tachment, and  it  matters  little  whether  the  croup  droops  a  lit- 
tle, or  is   pretty  straight   and  level,  so  that  there  is  a    good 

length  from  the  hips  to  the  haunch-bone    the  line  between  which 
4 


60  THE   AMERICAN    ELOUD-IIORSE. 

two  points  may  be  either  nearly  horizontal,  or  forming  a  con- 
siderable angle  with  the  ground  ;  but  still  in  both  cases  it 
should  be  a  long  line,  and  the  longer  it  is  the  more  muscular 
substance  is  attached  to  it,  and  the  greater  leverage  will  the 
muscles  have. 

The  fore-quarter,  consisting  of  the  shoulder,  upper  and  lower 
arm  and  leg  and  foot,  should  be  well  set  on  to  the  chest ;  and  the 
shoulder-blade  should  lie  obliquely  on  the  side  of  that  part,  with 
a  full  development  of  muscle  to  move  it,  and  thrust  it  well  forward 
in  the  gallop.  Obliquity  is  of  the  greatest  importance,  acting  as 
a  spring  in  taking  off  the  shock  of  the  gallop  or  leap,  and  also 
giving  a  longer  attachment  to  the  muscles,  and  in  addition  en- 
abling them  to  act  with  more  leverage  upon  the  arm  and  leg. 
As  the  shoulder-blade  does  not  reach  the  top  of  the  withers, 
and  as  the  bones  forming  that  part  have  nothing  to  do  with 
the  shoulder  itself,  many  higji-withcred  horses  have  bad  and 
weak  shoulders,  and  some  very  upright  ones ;  whilst,  on  the 
other  hand,  many  low-withered  horses  have  very  obliq-ue  and 
powerful  shoulders,  and  such  as  to  give  great  facility  and  plia- 
bility to  the  fore  extremity.  The  shoulder  should  be  very 
muscular,  without  being  over-done  or  loaded,  and  so  formed 
as  to  play  freely  in  the  action  of  the  horse.  The  point  of  the 
shoulder  which  is  the  joint  corresponding  to  the  human  shoulder, 
should  be  free  from  raggedness,  but  not  too  flat ;  a  certain  degree 
of  development  of  the  bony  part  is  desirable,  but  more  than 
this  leads  to  defects,  and  impedes  the  action  of  this  important 
part.  The  upper  arm,  between  this  joint  and  the  elbow, 
should  be  long,  and  well  clothed  with  muscles;  the  elbow  set  on 
quite  straight,  and  not  tied  in  to  the  chest ;  the  lower  arm  muscu- 
lar and  long  ;  knees  broad  and  strong,  with  the  bony  projection. 


THE   AMERICAN    BLOOD-HORSE.  61" 

behind  well  developed  ;  legs  flat,  and  showing  a  suspensory  liga* 
ment  large  and  free ;  pasterns  long  enough,  w^ithout  being 
weak  ;  and  the  feet  sound,  and  neither  too  large  nor  too  small, 
and  unattended  with  any  degree  of  contraction,  which  is  the 
bane  of  the  thorough-bred  horse. 

The  hind-quarter  is  the  chief  agent  in  propulsion,  and  is 
therefore  of  the  utmost  consequence  in  attaining  a  high  speed. 
It  is  often  asserted  that  the  oblique  shoulder  is  the  grand 
requisite  in  this  object,  and  that  it  is  the  part  upon  which  speed 
mainly  depends,  and  in  which  it  may  be  said  to  reside.  This  is, 
to  some  extent,  true,  because  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  with  a 
loaded  shoulder  high  speed  is  impracticable  ;  for,  however 
powerfully  the  body  may  be  propelled,  yet  when  the  fore-quar- 
ter touches  the  ground  it  does  not  bound  off  again  as  smartly 
as  it  ought  to  do,  and  the  pace  is  consequently  slow.  The 
elastic  shoulder,  on  the  contrary,  receives  the  resistance  of  the 
earth,  but  reacts  upon  it,  and  loses  very  little  of  the  power 
given,  by  the  strike  of  the  hind-quarter,  which,  nevertheless, 
must  be  strong  and  quick,  or  else  there  is  nothing  for  the 
shoulder  to  receive  and  transmit.  For  the  full  action  of  the 
hind-quarters,  two  things  are  necessary,  viz :  first,  length  and 
volume  of  muscle ;  and,  secondly,  length  of  leverage,  upon 
which  that  muscle  may  act.  Hence,  all  the  bones  comprising 
the  hind-quarter  should  be  long,  but  the  comparative  length 
must  vary  a  good  deal,  in  order  that  the  parts  upon  which  the 
muscles  lie  may  be  long,  rather  than  those  connected  with  the 
tendons,  which  are  mere  ropes,  and  have  no  propelling  power 
residing  in  them,  but  only  transmit  that  which  they  derive  from 
the  muscles  themselves.  Thus,  the  hips  should  be  long  and 
wide,  and  the  two  upper  divisions  of  the  limb — viz.j  the  stifle  and 


62  THE  AMERICAN  BLOOD-HORSE. 

lower  thigh— should  be  long,  strong,  and  fully  developed.  By 
this  formation,  the  stifle-joint  is  brought  well  forward,  and  there 
is  a  considerable  angle  between  these  two  divisions.  The  hock 
should  be  long  and  strong,  free  from  gum  or  spavin,  and  the 
point  long,  and  so  set  on  as  to  be  free  from  weakness  at  the 
situation  of  curb.  In  examining  the  hind-quarter,  to  judge  of 
its  aniscular  development,  the  horse  should  not  be  looked  at 
sideways,  but  his  tail  should  be  raised,  and  it  should  be  ascer- 
tained that  the  muscles  of  the  two  limbs  meet  together  below 
the  anus,  which  should  in  fact  be  well  supported  by  them,  and 
not  left  loose,  and,  as  it  were,  in  a  deep  and  flaccid  hollow. 
The  outline  of  the  outer  part  of  the  thigh  should  be  full,  and  in 
ordinary  horses  the  muscles  should  swell  out  beyond  the  level 
of  the  point  of  the  hip.  This  fullness,  however,  is  not  often 
seen  to  such  an  extent  in  the  thorough-bred  horse,  until  he  has 
arrived  at  mature  age,  and  is  taken  out  of  training.  The 
bones  below  the  hock  should  be  flat  and  free  from  adhesions : 
the  ligaments  and  tendons  fully  developed,  and  standing  out 
free  from  the  bones ;  and  the  joints  well  formed  and  wide,  yet 
without  any  diseased  enlargement ;  the  pasterns  should  be  mo- 
derately long,  and  oblique  ;  the  bones  of  good  size  ;  and,  lastly, 
the  feet  should  correspond  to  those  already  alluded  to  in  the 
anterior  extremity. 

These  points,  taken  as  a  whole,  should  be  in  proportion  to 
one  another — that  is  to  say,  the  formation  of  the  horse  should 
be  "true."  He  should  not  have  long,  well-developed  hind- 
quarters, with  an  upright,  weak,  or  confined  fore-quarter.  Nor 
will  the  reverse  of  this  answer  the  purpose  ;  for,  however  well- 
formed  the  shoulder  may  be,  the  horse  will  not  go  well  unless  he 
has  a  similar  formation  in  the  propeller.     It  is  of  great  impor- 


THE  AMERICAN   BLOOD-HORSE.  53 

tance,  therefore,  that  the  thorough-bi-ed  borse  should  have  all  his 
Various  points  in  true  relative  development,  and,  that  there  should 
not  be  the  hind-quarter  of  a  long,  racing-like  horse,  with  the 
thick,  confined  shoulder  which  would  suit  a  stride  less  reaching 
in  its  nature. 

The  color  of  the  thorough-bred  horse  is  now  generally  bay, 
brown,  or  chestnut,  one  or  the  other  of  which  will  occur  in  ninety- 
nine  cases  out  of  a  hundred  ;  gray  not  being  common,  though 
it  sometimes  appears.  Black,  also,  occasionally  makes  its  ap- 
pearance^ but  not  more  frequently  than  gray.  Roans,  duns, 
sorrels,  etc.,  are  now  quite  exploded,  and  the  above  five  colors 
maybe  said  to  complete  the  list  of  colors  seen  in  the  race-hoi'se. 
Sometimes  these  colors  are  mixed  with  a  good  deal  of  white,  in 
the  shape  of  blazes  on  the  face,  or  white  legs  and  feet ;  or  even 
both  may  occur,  and  the  horse  may  have  little  more  than  his 
body  of  a  brown,  bay,  or  chestnut.  Most  people,  however, 
prefer  the  self-color,  with  as  little  white  as  possible  ;  and  nothing 
but  the  great  success  of  a  horse's  stock  would  induce  breeders 
to  resort  to  him,  if  they  were  largely  endowed  with  white. 
Gray  hairs  mixed  in  the  coat,  are  rather  approved  than  other- 
wise ;  but  they  do  not  amount  to  a  roan,  in  which  the  gray 
hairs  equal,  or  even  more  than  that,  the  other  colors  mixed 
with  them. 

The  texture  of  the  coat  and  skin  is  a  great  proof  of  high- 
breeding,  and,  in  the  absence  of  the  pedigree,  would  be  highly 
regarded  ;  but  when  that  is  satisfactory,  it  is  of  no  use  descend- 
ing to  the  examination  of  an  inferior  proof;  and,  therefore,  ex- 
cept as  a  sign  of  health,  the  skin  is  seldom  considered.  In  all 
thorough-bred  horses,  however,  it  is  thinner,  and  the  hair  more 
silky  than  in  common  breeds ;  and  the  veins  are  more  apparent 


54  THE   AMERICAN   BLOOD-HORSE. 

under  the  skin,  partly  from  its  thinness,  but  also  from  thei^ 
extra  size  and  number  of  branches.  This  network  of  veins  is 
of  importance  in  allowing  the  circulation  to  be  carried  on 
during  high  exertions,  when,  if  the  blood  could  not  accumulate 
in  them,  it  would  often  choke  the  deep  vessels  of  the  heart 
and  lungs ;  but,  by  collecting  on  the  surface,  great  relief  is 
afforded,  and  the  horse  is  able  to  maintain  such  a  high  and  long- 
continued  speed,  as  would  be  impracticable  without  their  help. 
Hence  these  points  are  not  useful  as  a  mere  mark  of  breed, 
but  as  essential  to  the  very  purpose  for  which  that  breed  was 
established. 

The  mane  and  tail  should  be  silky,  and  not  curly,  though  a 
slight  wave  is  often  seen.  A  decided  curl  is  almost  univer- 
sally a  mark  of  degradation,  and  shows  a  stain  in  the  pedigree 
as  clearly  as  any  sign  can  do.  Here,  however,  as  in  other 
cases,  the  clear  tracing  of  that  all-powerful  proof  of  breeding, 
will  upset  all  reasoning  founded  upon  inferior  data.  The 
setting  on  of  the  tail  is  often  regarded  as  of  great  importance, 
but  it  is  chiefly  with  reference  to  appearances ;  for  the  horse  is 
not  dependent  for  action  or  power  upon  this  appendage.  Nor 
is  strength  of  dock  of  any  value  as  a  sign,  and  many  very  stout 
horses  have  been  known  with  flaccid  and  loosely  pendant  tails. 

It  is  well  known  that  certain  horses  can  run  half  a  mile  at 
high  speed,  but  no  more;  others,  a  mile;  others,  again,  a  mile 
and  a  half,  or  two  miles;  whilst  another  class,  now  less  common 
than  formerly,  require  a  distance  of  three  or  four  miles  to  de- 
velop their  powers,  as  compared  with  ordinary  horses.  These 
peculiarities  are  generally  hereditary,  though  not  always  so ; 
but  still,  when  the  blood  is  known,  it  may  generally  be  surmised, 
that  the  individual  will,  or  will  not,  stay  a  distance.     When  the 


THE    AMERICAN    BLOOD-HORSK.  65 

cross  iu  question  is  stout  ou  one  side,  and  flashy  on  the  other, 
it  is  not  easy  to  guess  to  which  the  young  scion  may  lean  ;  but 
in  those  cases  where  a  horse  is  bred  from  sire  or  dam,  both  of 
stout  blood,  or  the  reverse,  the  experienced  hand  may,  in  almost 
ail  cases,  decide  beforehand  upon  the  qualities  of  the  son  or 
daughter,  as  far  as  staying  qualities  are  concerned.  Again, 
there  are  some  horses  of  strong,  compact  frames,  with  short 
backs  and  strong  quarters,  who  may  be  expected  to  climb  a  hill 
without  difl&culty,  especially  if  of  stout  blood  ;  and,  again,  there 
are  others  of  lathy  frames,  with  long  but  weak  points,  and  a 
great  deal  of  daylight  under  them,  who  may  win  over  the  flat 
for  a  mile,  or  a  mile  and  a  quarter,  but  can  never  climb  a  hill, 
or  get  beyond  the  above  distance  over  a  flat.  All  these  points 
should  be  carefully  studied  by  the  breeder  in  getting  together 
bis  breeding  stock,  and  by  the  owner  in  deciding  how  he  will 
enter  his  young  produce  in  the  race. 

In  passing  from  the  consideration  of  the  history  of  the 
American  Race-IIorse  to  tlie  examination  of  other  races  and 
types  of  this  animal  in  general  use  in  our  country,  it  must  be 
borne  in  mind,  as  before  remarked,  that  the  thorough-bred  horse 
of  America  is  the  only  family  of  the  horse  on  this  continent  of 
pure  and  unmixed  blood. 

In  the  United  States,  and  British  America,  the  process  of 
absorption,  or  abolition  of  all  the  old  special  breeds,  and  of  the 
amalgamation  of  all  into  one  general  race,  which  may  fairly  be 
termed  specially  "American,"  possessing  a  very  large  admix- 
ture of  thorough  blood,  has  gone  on  far  more  rapidly  than  in 
England — the  rather  that,  with  the  one  solitary  exception  of 
the  Norman  horse  in  Canada,  no  special  breeds  have  ever  taken 


56  THE   AMERICAN    BLOOD-HORSE. 

root  as  such,  or  been  bred,  or  even  attempted  to  be  bred  in 
their  purity,  in  any  part  of  America. 

In  Canada  East,  the  Norman  horse,  imported  by  the  early 
settlers,  was  bred  for  n^any  generations  entirely  unmixed ;  and, 
as  the  general  agricultural  horse  of  that  province,  exists  so  yet, 
stunted  somewhat  in  size  by  the  cold  climate,  and  the  rough 
usage  to  which  he  has  been  subjected  for  centuries,  but  in  no 
wise  degenerated;  for  he  possesses  all  the  honesty,  courage, 
endurance,  hardihood,  soundness  of  constitution,  and  charac- 
teristic excellence  of  feet  and  legs  of  his  progenitor.  Through- 
out both  the  provinces,  he  may  be  regarded  as  the  basi'^  of 
the  general  horse,  improved  as  a  working  animal  by  crosses  of 
English  half-bred  sires ;  and  as  a  roadster,  carriage-horse,  a 
higher  class  riding  or  driving  horse,  by  an  infusion  of  English 
thorough  blood. 

All  these  latter  types  are  admirable  animals  ;  and  it  is  from 
the  latter  admixture  that  have  sprung  many  of  the  most  cele- 
brated trotting  horses,  which,  originally  of  Canadian  descent, 
have  found  their  way  into  the  New  England  States  and  New 
York,  and  there  won  their  laurels  as  American  trotters.  Still, 
it  is  not  to  be  denied,  that  there  are  in  different  sections  of  the 
United  States,  different  local  breeds  of  horses,  apparently  pecu- 
liar, and  now  become  nearly  indigenous  to  those  localities,  and 
that  those  breeds  differ  not  a  little,  as  well  in  ciualities  as  in 
form  and  general  appearance.  A  good  judge  of  horse-flesh, 
for  instance,  will  find  little  difficulty  in  selecting  the  draught- 
horse  of  Boston,  that  is  to  say,  of  Massachusetts  and  Vermont, 
from  those  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  or  any  of  the  three 
from  the  large  Pennsylvania  team-horses,  or  from  the  general 
stock  of  the  Western  States. 


THE    VERMONT   DRAUGIIT-IIORSE.  67 

The  Yermont  draught-horse,  and  the  great  Pennsylvania 
horse,  known  as  the  Conestoga  horse,  appear  in  some  considera- 
ble degree  to  merit  the  title  of  distinct  families ;  inasmuch  as 
they  seem  to  reproduce  themselves  continually,  and  to  have 
done  so  from  a  remote  period,  comparatively  speaking,  within 
certain  regions  of  country,  which  have  for  many  years  been 
furnishing  them  in  considerable  numbers  to  those  markets,  for 
which  their  qualities  render  them  most  desirable. 

With  the  limited  information  at  present  accessible  as  to  the 
origin  and  derivation  of  these  various  families,  nothing  more 
can  be  done  in  the  present  work  than  to  describe  the  charac- 
teristic points  of  the  breeds  in  question  ;  and,  by  comparison 
with  existing  foreign  races,  to  approach  conjecturally  the  blood 
from  which  they  are  derived,  and  also  the  manner  in  which  they 
have  been  originated,  where  they  are  now  found. 


THE  VEBMONT  DRAUGHT-HORSB. 

No  person  familiar  with  the  streets  of  New  YorV  /an  have 
failed  to  notice  the  magnificent  animals,  for  the  most  part  dark 
bays,  with  black  legs,  manes,  and  tails,  but  a  few  browns,  and 
now  and  then,  but  rarely,  a  deep,  rich,  glossy  chestnut,  which 
draw  the  heavy  wagons  of  the  express  companies  in  that  city. 
They  are  the  very  model  of  what  draught-horses  should  be ; 
combining  immense  power  with  great  quickness,  a  very  respect- 
able turn  of  speed,  fine  show,  and  good  action. 

These  animals  have  almost  invariably  lofty  crests,  thin  withers, 
and  well  set-on  heads ;  and,  although  they  are  emphatically 
draught-horses,  they  have  none  of  that  shagginess  of  mane,  tail, 
and  fetlocks,  which  indicates  a  descent  from  the  black  horse 
of  Lincolnshire,  and  none  of  that  peculiar  curliness  or  waviness 


58 


THE   VERMONT   DRAUGHT-HORSE. 


which  marks  the  existence  of  Canadian  or  Norman  blood  for 
many  generations,  and  which  is  discoverable  in  the  manes  and 
tails  of  very  many  of  the  Morgan  horses. 

The  peculiar  characteristics  of  these  horses  are,  however,  the 
shortness  of  their  backs,  the  roundness  of  their  barrels,  and  the 
closeness  of  their  ribbing-up.  One  would  say,  that  they  are 
ponies,  until  he  comes  to  stand  beside  them,  when  he  is  as- 
tonished to  find  that  they  are  often er 
iv    over,  than  under,  sixteen  hands  in  height. 


THE  VERMONT  DRAUGHT-HOKSE. 


Nine  out  of  ten  of  these  horses  are  from  Vermont ;  and  not  only 
are  they  the  finest  animals  in  all  the  United  States,  for  the 
quick  draught  of  heavy  loads,  but  the  mares  of  this  stock  are 
incomparably  the  likeliest,  from  which,  by  a  well-chosen  tho- 
rough-bred sire,  to  raise  the  most  magnificent  carriage-horses  in 
the  world. 

As  to  the  source  of  this  admirable  stock  of  horses,  it  may  be 


THE    VERMONT   DRAUGHT-HORSB.  59 

said,  that  the  size,  the  action,  the  color,  the  comparative  free- 
dom from  hair  on  the  limbs,  the  straightness  of  the  longer  hairs 
of  the  mane  and  tail,  and  the  quickness  of  movement,  would  at 
once  lead  one  to  suspect  a  large  cross,  perhaps  the  largest  of 
any,  on  the  original  mixed  country  horse,  of  Cleveland  Bay. 
There  are,  however,  some  points  in  almost  all  of  these  horses, 
which  must  be  referred  to  some  other  foreign  cross  than  the 
Cleveland,  not  thorough  bred,  and  certainly,  as  above  remarked, 
not  Norman  or  Canadian,  of  which  these  animals  do  not  exhibit 
any  characteristic.  These  ppints  are,  principally,  the  shortness 
of  the  back,  the  roundness  of  the  barrel,  the  closeness  of  the 
ribbing-up,  the  general  punchy  or  pony  build  of  the  animal, 
and  its  form  and  size,  larger  and  more  massively  muscular  than 
those  of  the  Cleveland  Bay,  yet  displaying  fully  as  large,  if  not 
a  larger,  share  of  blood  than  belongs  to  that  animal  in  its  un- 
mixed form. 

The  prevalent  colors  of  this  breed  also  appear  to  point  to 
an  origin  different,  in  part,  from  that  of  the  pure  Cleveland 
Bays,  which  lean  to  the  light  or  yellow  bay  variation,  while 
these  New  Englanders  tend  as  decidedly  to  the  blood  bay,  if 
not  to  the  brown  bay,  or  pure  brown.  These  latter  are  espe- 
cially the  dray-horse  colors,  and  the  points  above  specified  are 
those,  in  a  great  measure,  of^the  improved  dray-horse.  The 
cross  of  this  blood  in  the  present  animal,  if  there  be  one,  is 
doubtless  very  remote  ;  and,  v/hether  it  may  have  come  from  a 
single  mixture  of  the  dray  stallion  long  since,  or  from  some 
half-bred  imported  stallion,  perhaps  got  by  a  three-part  tho- 
rough bred  and  Clevelander  from  a  dray  mare,  must,  of  course, 
be  doubtful.  One  need  have  little  hesitancy  in  asserting  that 
the  bay  draught-horse  of  Vermont,  has  in  its  veins,  principally 


60 


THE   CONESTOGA    HORSE. 


Cleveland  Bay  blood,  with  some  cross  of  thorough  blood,  on* 
at  least,  directly  or  indirectly,  of  the  improved  English  dray- 
horse,  and  not  impossibly  a  chance  admixture  of  the  Suffolk. 


THE  COIxTESTOGA  HOHSB. 

In  appearance  this  noble  draught-horse  approaches  far  more 
nearly  to  the  improved  light-class  London  dray-horse,  and  has 
little,  if  any,  admixture  of  Cleveland  Bay,  and  certainly  none 


X  CONESTOGA — THE   GREAT   PEXXSYLVAJTIA  DRAUGHT-HORSE. 

of  thorough  blood.  He  is  a  teamster,  and  a  teamster  only ; 
but  a  very  noble,  a  very  honest,  and  a  moderately  quick-work- 
ing teamster.  In  size  and  power  some  of  these  great  ani- 
mals employed  in  draught  upon  the  railroad  track  in  Market 
street,  Philadelphia,  are  little,  if  at  all,  inferior  to  the  dray- 
horses  of  the  best  breweries  and  distilleries  in  London  \  many 


THE    CONESTOGA   HORSE.  fel' 

of  them  coming  fully  up  to  the  standard  of  seventeen  or  seven- 
teen and  a  half  hands  in  height. 

In  color,  also,  they  follow  the  dray-horses ;  being  more  often 
blood-bays,  brown,  and  dapple-grays  than  of  any  other  shade. 
The  bays  and  browns,  moreover,  are  frequently  dappled  also  in 
their  quarters,  which  is  decidedly  a  dray-horse  characteristic 
and  beauty  ;  while  it  is,  in  some  degree,  a  derogation  to  a  horse 
pretending  to  much  blood.  This  peculiarity  is  often  observ- 
able also  in  the  larger  of  the  heavy  Yermont  draught-horses, 
and  is  not  unknown  in  the  light  and  speedy  Morgan. 

They  have  the  lofty  crests,  shaggy  volumes  of  mane  and  tail, 
round  buttocks,  hairy  fetlocks,  and  great  round  feet  of  the 
dray-horse  ;  they  are,  however,  longer  in  the  back,  finer  in  the 
shoulder,  looser  in  the  loin,  and  perhaps,  fatter  in  the  side  than 
their  English  antitypes.  They  do  not  run  to  the  unwieldy 
superfluity  of  flesh,  for  which  the  dray-horse  is  unfortunately 
famous ;  they  have  a  lighter  and  livelier  carriage,  a  better  step 
and  action,  and  are,  in  all  respects,  better  travelers,  more 
active,  generally  useful,  and  superior  animals. 

They  were  for  many  years,  before  railroads  took  a  part  of 
the  work  off  their  broad  and  honest  backs,  the  great  carriers 
of  produce  and  provisions  from  the  interior  of  Pennsylvania  to 
the  seaboard,  or  the  market ;  and  the  vast  white-topped  wagons, 
drawn  by  superb  teams  of  the  stately  Conestogas,  were  a  dis- 
tinctive feature  in  the  landscape  of  that  great  agricultural 
State.  Tiie  lighter  horses  of  this  breed,  were  the  general  farm- 
horses  of  the  country  ;  and  no  one,  who  is  familiar  with  the 
agricultural  regions  of  that  fine  State,  can  fail  to  observe  that 
the  farm-horses  generally,  whether  at  the  plough,  or  on  the 


63  tUE   CANADIAN   HORSE. 

road,  are  of  considerably  more  bulk  and  bone  than  those  of 
New  York,  New  Jersey,  or  the  Western  country. 

Of  the  Conestoga  horse,  although  it  has  long  been  known 
and  distinguished  by  name  as  a  separate  family,  nothing  is 
positively  authenticated,  from  the  fact  that  such  pedigrees 
have  never  been,  in  the  least  degree,  attended  to  ;  and,  perhaps, 
no  less  from  the  different  language  spoken  by  the  German 
farmers,  among  whom  this  stock  seems  first  to  have  obtained, 
and  by  whom  principally  it  has  been  preserved.  It  would  ap' 
pear,  however,  most  probable,  taking  into  consideration  the 
thrifty  character,  and  apparently  ample  means  of  the  early 
German  settlers,  their  singular  adherence  to  old  customs  and 
conservatism  of  old-country  ideas,  that  they  brought  with  them 
horses  and  cattle,  such  as  Wouvermans,  and  Paul  Potter  painted ; 
and  introduced  to  the  rich  pastures  of  the  Delaware  and  the 
Schuylkill,  the  same  type  of  animals  which  had  become  famous 
in  the  similarly  constituted  lowlands  of  Flanders,  Guelderland, 
and  the  United  Provinces. 


THE  CANADIAN  HORSE. 

The  Canadian  is  generally  low-sized,  rarely  exceeding  fifteen 
hands,  and  more  often  falling  short  of  it.  His  characteristics 
are  a  broad,  open  forehead ;  ears  somewhat  wide  apart,  and  not 
unfrequently  a  basin  face ;  the  latter,  perhaps,  a  trace  of  the. 
far  remote  Spanish  blood,  said  to  exist  in  his  veins ;  the  origin 
of  the  improved  Norman  or  Percheron  stock,  being,  it  is  usually 
believed,  a  cross  of  the  Spaniard,  Barb  by  descent,  with  the 
old  Norman  war-horse. 

His  crest  is  lofty,  and  his  demeanor  proud  and  courageous. 
His  breast  is  full  and  broad  ;  his  shoulder  strong,  though  some- 


THE   CANADIAN    IIOBSE.  63 

what  straight,  and  a  little  inclined  to  be  heavy ;  his  back  broad, 
and  his  croup  round,  fleshy,  and  muscular.  His  ribs  are  not, 
however,  so  much  arched,  nor  are  they  so  well  closed-up,  as  his 
general  shape  and  build  would  lead  one  to  expect.  His  legs 
and  feet  are  admirable ;  the  bone  large  and  flat,  and  the  sinews 
big,  and  nervous  as  steel-springs.  His  feet  seem  almost  un- 
conscious of  disease.  His  fetlocks  are  shaggy ;  his  mane 
voluminous  and  massive,  not  seldom,  if  untrained,  falling  on 
both  sides  of  his  neck;  and  his  tail  abundant;  both  having  a 
peculiar  crimpled  wave,  never  seen  in  any  horse  which  has  not 
some  strain  of  this  blood. 

He  cannot  be  called  a  speedy  horse  in  his  pure  state ;  but 
he  is  emphatically  a  quick  one,  an  indefatigable,  undaunted 
traveler,  with  the  greatest  endurance,  day  in  and  day  out, 
allowing  him  to  go  his  own  pace — say  from  six  to  eight  miles 
the  hour — with  a  horse's  load  behind  him,  oi  an  animal  one 
can  derive.  He  is  extremely  hardy,  will  thrive  on  any  thing, 
or  almost  on  nothing;  is  docile,  though  high-spirited,  remark- 
ably sure-footed  on  the  worst  ground,  and  has  fine,  high  action, 
bending  his  knee  roundly,  and  setting  his  foot  squarely  on  the 
ground.  As  a  farm-horse  and  ordinary  farming  roadster,  there 
is  no  better  or  more  honest  animal ;  and,  as  one  to  cross  with 
other  breeds,  whether  upwards  by  the  mares  to  thorough-bred 
stallions,  or  downwards  by  the  stallions  to  common  country 
mares  of  other  breeds,  he  has  hardly  any  equal. 

From  the  upward  cross,  with  the  English  or  American  tho- 
rough-bred on  the  sire's  side,  the  Canadian  has  produced  some 
of  the  fastest  trotters  and  the  best  gentleman's  road  and  saddle- 
horses  in  the  country ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  the  Canadian 
stallion,  wherever  he  has  been  introduced,  as  he  has  been  largely 


64  THE   INDIAN   PONY. 

in  the  neighborhood  of  Skaneateles,  and  generally  in  the  western 
part  of  the  State  of  New  York,  is  gaining  more  and  more  favor 
with  the  farmers,  and  is  improving  the  style  and  stamina  of 
the  country  stock.  He  is  said,  although  small  himself  in  stature, 
to  have  the  unusual  quality  of  breeding  up  in  size  with  larger 
and  loftier  mares  than  himself,  and  to  give  the  foals  his  own 
vigor,  pluck,  and  iron  constitution,  with  the  frame  and  general 
aspect  of  their  dams.  This,  it  may  be  remarked  in  passing, 
appears  to  be  a  characteristic  of  the  Barb  blood  above  all  others, 
and  is  a  strong  corroboration  of  the  legend,  which  attributes  to 
him  an  early  Andalusian  strain. 


THE  INDIAN  PONY. 

The  various  breeds  of  Indian  ponies  found  in  the  West, 
generally  appear  to  be  the  result  of  a  cross  between  the  Southern 
mustang,  descended  from  the  emancipated  Spanish  horses  of 
the  Southwest,  and  the  smallest  type  of  the  Canadian,  the  pro- 
portions varying  according  to  the  localities  in  which  they  are 
found  ;  those  further  to  the  South  sharing  more  largely  of  the 
Spanish,  and  those  to  the  North  of  the  Normal  blood. 

These  little  animals,  not  exceeding  thirteen  hands  in  height, 
have,  many  of  them,  all  the  characteristics  of  the  pure  Cana- 
dians, and,  except  in  size,  are  not  to  be  distinguished  from 
thera.  They  have  the  same  bold  carriage,  open  countenance, 
abundant  hair,  almost  resembling  a  lion's  mane,  the  same 
general  build,  and,  above  all,  the  same  iron  feet  and  legs. 
They  are  merry  goers,  and  over  a  hard  and  good  road  can 
spin  along  at  nearly  nine  miles  in  the  hour.  They  are  dis- 
tinguished for  their  wonderful  sure-footedness,  sagacity,  and 
docility.     They  are  driven  without  blinkers  or  bearing  reins, 


THE   NARRAGANSETT   PACER.  65 

and  where,  as  is  often  the  case,  bridges  seem  doubtful,  the 
bottom  of  miry  fords  suspicious  of  quagmires,  or  the  road  other^ 
wise  dangerous,  they  will  put  down  their  heads  to  examine,  try 
the  difficulty  with  their  feet,  and,  when  satisfied,  will  get 
through  or  over  places  which  seem  utterly  impracticable. 

Whence  this  peculiar  pony  breed  of  Canadians  has  arisen 
cannot  with  certainty  be  traced  ;  it  seems,  however,  to  be  almost 
entirely  peculiar  to  the  Indian  tribes,  and,  therefore,  may  havo 
been  produced  by  the  dwarfing  process,  which  will  arise  from 
hardship  and  privation,  endured  for  generation  after  generation, 
particularly  by  the  young  animals  and  mares  while  heavy  with 
foal.  Most  of  these  animals  have  no  recent  cross  of  the  Spanish 
horse ;  although  some  ponies  approaching  nearly  to  the  same 
type,  show  an  evident  cros  of  the  Mustang  ;  and  many  animals 
called  Mustangs,  have  in  them  some  unmistakable  Canadian 
blood. 


THE  NARRAGANSETT  PACER. 
This  beautiful  animal,  which,  so  far  as  can  now  be  ascertained, 
has  at  present  entirely  ceased  to  exist,  and  concerning  which 
the  strangest  legends  and  traditions  are  afloat,  was,  it  may  be 
asserted  with  comparative  certainty,  of  Andalusian  blood.  The 
legends,  to  which  allusion  has  been  made,  are  two-fold ;  or, 
rather,  there  are  two  versions  of  the  same  legend ;  one  saying 
that  the  original  stallion,  whence  the  breed  originated,  was 
picked  up  at  sea,  swimming  for  his  life,  no  one  knew  whence 
or  thither,  and,  that  he  was  so  carried  in  by  his  salvors  to  the 
Providence  Plantations  ;  the  other,  evidently  another  form  of 
the  same  story,  stating  that  the  same  original  progenitor  was 
discovered  running  wild  in  the  woods  of  Khode  Island. 
$ 


66  THE    NARRAGANSETT   PACER. 

The  question,  however,  thus  far  seems  to  be  put  at  rest  hj 
the  account  of  these  animals,  given  in  a  note  to  the  very  curious 
work,  "America  Dissected,"  by  the  Rev.  James  McSparran, 
D.D.,  which  is  published  as  an  appendix  to  the  History  of  the 
Church  of  Narragansett,  by  Wilkins  Updike.  In  this  work, 
the  Doctor  twice  mentions  the  pacing  horse,  which  was  evi- 
dently at  that  remote  date,  (1121-59,)  an  established  breed  in 
that  province.  "To  remedy  this,"  he  says — "this"  being  the 
great  extent  of  the  parishes  in  Virginia,  of  which  he  is  at  first 
speaking,  and  the  distance  which  had  to  be  traveled  to  church, 
— "  as  the  whole  province  between  the  mountains,  two  hundred 
miles  up,  and  the  sea,  is  all  a  champaign  and  without  stones, 
they  have  plenty  of  a  small  sort  of  horses,  the  best  in  the  world, 
like  the  little  Scotch  Galloways  ;  and  'tis  no  extraordinary  jour- 
ney to  ride  from  sixty  to  seventy  miles,  or  more,  in  a  day.  I 
have  often,  but  upon  large  pacing  horses,  rode  fifty,  nay,  sixty 
miles  a  day,  even  here  in  New  England,  where  the  roads  are 
rough,  stony,  and  uneven."  Elsewhere  he  speaks  more  point- 
edly of  the  same  breed.  "The  produce  of  this  Colony," 
(Rhode  Island,)  "is  principally  butter  and  cheese,  fat  cattle, 
wool,  and  fine  horses,  which  are  exported  to  all  parts  of  English 
America.  They  are  remarkable  for  fleetness  and  sivift  paeing , 
a»d  I  have  seen  some  of  them  pace  a  mile  in  a  little  more  than 
two  minutes,  and  a  good  deal  less  than  three." 

If  the  worthy  doctor  of  divinity  was  a  good  judge  of  pace, 
and  had  a  good  timing  watch,  it  would  seem  that  the  wonderful 
me  of  our  fleetest  racers  was  equaled,  if  not  outdone,  up- 
wards of  a  century  ago  ;  at  all  events,  he  establishes,  beyond  a 
peradventure,  the  existence  of  the  family,  and  its  unequaled 
powers  both  of  speed  and  endurance. 


THE   NARRAGANSETT   PACER.  67 

To  the  latter  extract  is  attached  a  lengthy  note,  a  portion 
>f  which  we  give.  "The  breed  of  horses,  called  'Narragansett 
pacers,'  once  so  celebrated  for  fleetness,  endurance,  and  speed, 
has  become  extinct.  These  horses  were  highly  valued  for  the 
saddle,  and  transported  the  rider  with  great  pleasantness  and 
sureness  of  foot.  The  pure  blood  could  not  trot  at  all.  For- 
merly, they  had  pace  races.  Little  N'eck  Beach,  in  South 
Kingston,  one  mile  in  length,  was  the  race-course.  A  silver 
tankard  was  the  prize,  and  high  bets  were  otherwise  made  on 
the  sperd.  Some  of  these  prize  tankards  were  remaining  a 
few  years  ago.  Traditions  respecting  the  swiftness  of  these 
horses  a-je  almost  incredible.  Watson,  in  his  '  Historical  Tales 
of  Oldeu  Times,'  says:  'In  olden  time,  the  horses  most  valued 
were  pacers^  now  so  odious  deemed.  To  this  end  the  breed 
was  propagated  with  care.  The  Narragansett  pacers  were  in 
such  repute,  that  they  were  sent  for,  at  much  trouble  and  ex- 
pense, by  some  who  were  choice  in  their  selections.'"  ■ 

The  most  natural  reason  assignable  for  the  extinction  of  this 
breed,  would  seem  to  be  somewhat  as  follows.  Up  to  the  be- 
ginning of  the  present  century  in  this  country, — much  as  it  was 
half  a  century  yet  farther  back  in  Englaijd, — the  roads  were 
so  bad,  as  to  be,  except  in  the  finest  weather,  utterly  imprac- 
ticable for  wheel-carriages;  and  that,  except  on  the  great  turn- 
pike-roads, and  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  larger  towns, 
private  pleasure-vehicles  were  almost  unknown;  all  long  jour- 
neys, with  few  exceptions,  all  excursions  for  pleasure  or  for 
ordinary  business,  and  all  visitings  between  friends  and  neigh- 
bors being  performed  by  both  sexes  on  the  saddle.  At  that 
time  there  was,  therefore,  a  demand,  as  an  actual  necessity,  foi 
speedy,  and,  above  all,  for  easy  and  pleasant-going  saddle-horses. 


68  THE   NARRAQANSETT   PACER. 

Pacers,  whenever  they  could  be  found,  would  most  readily 
answer  the  desired  end. 

The  expense  of  this  was,  of  course,  considerable,  since  the 
pacer  could  not  be  used  for  any  other  purpose ;  when,  there- 
fore, the  roads  improved,  in  proportion  to  the  improvement  of 
the  country  and  the  general  increase  of  the  population,  wheel- 
carriages  generally  came  into  use,  and  the  draught-horse  took 
the  place  of  the  saddle-horse.  It  was  soon  found  that  a  horse 
could  not  be  kept  even  tolerably  fit  for  the  saddle,  if  he  was 
allowed  to  work  in  the  plough  or  draw  the  team,  while  the 
same  labor  in  no  wise  detracted  from  the  chaise  or  carriage- 
horse.  The  pacer,  therefore,  gave  way  to  the  trotter;  and  the 
riding-horse,  from  being  an  article  of  necessity,  became  ex- 
clusively one  of  luxury ;  to  such  a  degree,  that,  until  compara- 
tively a  recent  period,  when  ladies  began  again  to  take  up 
riding,  there  have  been  very  few  distinctively  broken  riding- 
horses,  and  still  fewer  kept  exclusively  as  such  in  the  Northern 
States  of  America. 

This,  unquestionably,  is  the  cause  of  the  extinction  of  the 
pacer,  although  there  have  been  pacing-horses  in  the  eastern 
Bcction  of  this  country,  professedly  from  Khode  Island,  and 
called  by  names  implying  a  Narragansett  origin ;  and  although 
it  may  well  be  that  they  were  from  that  region,  and  possibly, 
in  a  remote  degree,  from  that  blood,  yet  they  did  not  pace 
naturally  because  they  were  Narragansett  Pacers,  but  were  so 
called,  because  coming  somewhere  from  that  region  of  country, 
they  paced  by  accident — as  many  chance  horses  do — or,  in  some 
instances,  had  been  taught  to  pace. 

Considering  the  rare  qualities  of  this  variety,  and  its  ad- 
mirable adaptedness  for  many  purposes  of  pleasure  and  conve- 


THE    MORGAN    HORSE. 


^9 


nience,  it  is  a  matter  for  real  regret  that  the  family  has  entirely 
disappeared,  presumably  without  any  prospect  or  hope  of  its 
resuscitation. 


THE  MORGAN  HOKSE. 

Within  a  few  years  past  the  sporting  world  have  become 
familiar  with  a  class  or  type  of  horses  coming  from  the  State 
of  Vermont,  known  as  the  Morgan  horse ;  in  behalf  of  which  a 
claim  has  been  made,  that  it  is  a  distinct  family,  directly  de- 
scended from  a  single  horse,  owned  a  little 


■THAN  ALLEN — A  FAST  TROTTING  MORGAN  HORSE. 

before  and  a  little  after  the  commencement  of  the  present  cen- 
tury, loy  Justin  Morgan,  of  Randolph,  in  Vermont,  from  whom 
the  name  takes  its  rise. 

Without  choosing  to  go  into  an  examination  of  the  validity 
of  this  claim — relative  to  which  question  an  amount  of  bicker- 
ing, crimination  and  recri  mi  nation  has  sprung  up,  sufficient  to 


^0  THE    MORGAN    HORSE. 

furnish  the  stock  in  trade  of  all  our  stump  orators  for  the  next 
fifty  Presidential  campaigns — we  content  ourselves  here  with 
alluding  to  the  strong  points  and  excellencies  of  tliis  particular 
variety,  (for  such  the  most  sturdy  opponents  to  its  rank  as  a 
distinct  family  freely  admit  that  it  possesses,)  referring  the 
reader,  who  is  curious  in  such  matters,  to  the  appropriate  trea- 
tises for  and  against  the  claim,  which  have  been  as  voluminous 
as  the  most  prolix  of  Presidential  messages. 

'•The  original,  a  'Justin  Morgan'" — we  now  quote  from 
"  Morgan  Horses,"  by  D.  C.  Linsley — "  was  about  fourteen 
hands  high,  and  weighed  about  nine  hundred  and  fifty  pounds. 
His  color  was  dark-bay,  with  black  legs,  mane,  and  tail.  He 
had  no  white  hairs  upon  him.  His  mane  and  tail  were  coarse 
and  heavy,  but  not  so  massive  as  has  been  sometimes  described ; 
the  hair  of  both  was  straight,  and  not  inclined  to  curl.  His 
head  was  good,  not  extremely  small,  but  lean  and  bony,  the  face 
straight,  forehead  broad,  ears  small  and  very  fine,  but  set  rather 
wide  apart.  His  eyes  were  medium  size,  very  dark  and  promi- 
nent, and  showed  no  white  around  the  edge  of  the  lid.  His 
nostrils  were  very  large,  the  muzzle  small,  and  the  lips  close 
and  firm.  His  back  and  legs  were,  perhaps,  his  most  noticeable 
points.  The  former  was  very  short ;  the  shoulder-blades  and 
thigh-bones  being  very  long  and  oblique,  and  the  loins  exceed- 
ingly broad  and  muscular.  His  body  was  rather  long,  round 
and  deep,  close-ribbed  up  ;  chest  deep  and  wide,  with  the  breast- 
bone projecting  a  good  deal  in  front.  His  legs  were  short, 
close-jointed,  thin,  but  very  wide,  hard  and  ^rce  from  meat,  with 
muscles  that  were  remarkably  large  for  a  horse  of  his  size;  and 
this  superabundance  of  muscle  manifested  itself  at  every  step. 
His  hair  was  short,  and  at  almost  all  seasons  short  and  glossy. 


THE    MORGAN    HORSE.  71 

He  had  a  little  long  hair  about  the  fetlocks,  and  for  two  or 
three  inches  aboVe  the  fetlock,  on  the  back-side  of  the  legs  ;  the 
rest  of  his  limbs  were  entirely  free  from  it.  His  feet  were  small, 
but  well-shaped ;  and  he  was  in  every  respect  perfectly  sound 
andjree  from  blemish.  He  was  a  very  fast  walker.  In  trotting, 
his  gait  was  low  and  smooth,  and  his  step  short  and  nervous ; 
he  was  not  what  in  these  days  would  be  called  fast,  and  we 
think  it  doubtful  whether  he  could  trot  a  mile  much,  if  any, 
within  four  minutes,  although  it  is  claimed  by  many  that  he 
could  trot  in  three. 

*' Although  he  raised  his  feet  but  little,  he  never  stumbled. 
His  proud,  bold,  and  fearless  style  of  movement,  and  his  vigor- 
ous, untiring  action  have,  perhaps,  never  been  surpassed.  * 
*****  jjg  ^j^g  r^  g^^j.  runner  at  short  distances. 
Running  short  distances  for  small  stakes,  was  very  common  in 
Vermont  fifty  years  ago.  Eighty  rods  was  very  generally  the 
length  of  the  course  which  usually  commenced  at  a  tavern  or 
grocery,  and  extended  the  distance  agreed  upon  up  or  down  the 
public  road.  In  these  races  the  horses  were  started  from  a 
scratch ;  that  is,  a  mark  was  drawn  across  the  road  in  the  dirt, 
and  the  horses,  ranged  in  a  row  upon  it,  went  off  at  the  drop- 
ping of  a  hat,  or  some  other  signal. 

"It  will  be  observed  that  the  form  of  Justin  Morgan  was  not 
such  as,  in  our  days,  is  thought  best  calculated  to  give  the 
greatest  speed  for  a  short  distance.  Those  who  believe  in  long- 
legged  racers  will  think  his  legs,  body,  and  stride,  were  all  too 
short,  and  to  them  it  may,  perhaps,  seem  surprising  that  he 
^ould  be  successful,  as  he  invariably  was,  in  such  contests." 

The  qualities  claimed  for  this  stock  are  neat  style,  good 
trotting  action,  great  honesty,  great  quickness  and  sprightliness 


72  THE   MORGAN   HORSE. 

of  movement, — apart  from  extraordinary  speed,  which  is  not 
insisted  upon  as  a  characteristic  of  the  breed,  although  some 
have  possessed  it — and  considerable  powers  of  endurance. 
There  has  been  some  conflict  of  opinion  concerning  the  courage 
and  endurance  of  the  Morgans,  and  their  ability  to  maintain  a 
good  stroke  of  speed,  say  ten  miles  an  hour,  for  several  hours 
in  succession  ;  but  it  is  now  well  established  that  this  exception 
has  not  been  fairly  taken,  and  that  these  horses  lack  neither 
courage  nor  ability  to  persevere,  though  not  at  a  high  rate  of 
speed. 

By  fair  deduction  from  the  various  conflicting  accounts  of 
the  Morgans,  as  they  now  exist,  it  may  be  stated  that  they  are  a 
small,  compact,  active  style  of  horse,  showing  the  evidence  of  a 
strain  of  good  blood.  They  rarely,  if  ever,  exceed  fifteen  hands 
two  inches,  and  it  is  probable  that  a  hand  lower,  or  from  that 
up  to  fifteen,  is  nearer  to  their  standard.  They  are  not  par- 
ticularly closely  ribbed  up,  and  many  of  them  incline  to  be 
sway -backed.  Their  hind-quarters  are  generally  powerful,  and 
their  legs  and  feet  good.  There  is  an  evident  family  resem- 
blance in  their  foreheads,  their  neck  and  crests  being  so  often, 
as  to  render  the  mark  somewhat  characteristic,  lofty  but  erect, 
without  much  curvature,  and  the  neck  apt  to  be  thick  at  the 
setting-on  of  the  head,  which,  though  good,  is  rarely  blood-like. 
The  manes  and  tails  are  almost  invariably  coarse,  as  well  as 
heavy  and  abundant,  and  have  very  often  a  strong  wave,  or 
even  curl,  of  the  hair. 

It  is  admitted  by  the  most  strenuous  opponents  of  this  horse 
as  a  distinct  family,  that  the  very  best  general  stock  for  breed- 
ing for  general  work — namely,  a  high  cross  of  the  very  best 
thorough-bred  on  the  sires  side,  with  the  very  best  general  stock 


NATURAL    HISTORY   OF   THE   HORSE.  73 

on  the  dam's — is  to  be  found,  so  far  as  the  United  States  are 
concerned,  on  the  frontiers  of  Yermont,  and  that  of  the  most 
approved  quality. 

Having  given  the  history  of  the  various  types  or  families  of 
the  horse  throughout  the  world,  we  next  propose  taking  up 


THE  NATUKAL  HISTOKY  OF  THE  HOKSE. 


BKELETOK  OF  THE  HORSE  AS  COVERED  BY  THE  MUSCLES. 

1.  1.  Th*  seven  cervical  vertebrae,  or  bones  of  the  neck.  2.  The  sternum,  or  breast- 
borne.  3.  The  scapula,  or  shoulder-blade.  4.  The  humerus,  or  bone  of  the  arm.  5, 
.'5.  The  radius,  or  boue  of  the  fore-arm.  6.  The  nliia,  or  elbow.  7.  The  cartilages  of 
the  ribs.  S,  8,  8.  The  costs,  or  ribs.  9.  The  carpus,  or  seven  bones.  10,  10.  The 
metacarpal,  or  shank-bones:  the  larger  metacarpal,  or  cannon,  or  shank-bone,  in 
front;  and  the  small  metacarpal,  or  splint-bone,  behind.  11.  The  upper  pastern. 
12.  The  lower  pastern.  1.3.  The  coffln-bone.  14  to  14.  The  eighteen  dorsal  vertebra, 
or  bones  of  the  spine.  15.  The  six  lumbar  vertebrae,  or  bones  of  the  loins.  16,  16.  The 
haunch,  consisting  of  the  iUum,  the  ischium,  and  the  pubis.  17,  17.  The  femur,  or 
thigh-bone.  18,  18.  The  stifle-joint,  with  the  patella,  or  knee-cap.  19,  19.  The  tibia, 
or  proper  leg-bone.  20.  The  fibula.  21,  21.  The  tarsus,  or  hock.  22.  The  metatarsal 
bones  of  the  hind-leg.  23,  23.  The  pastern  of  the  hind-feet,  including  the  upper  and 
larger  bone,  (fig.  23,)  the  lower  pastern,  (fig.  25,)  and  the  coffin-bone.  (fig.  24.)  26,  26. 
The  caudal  vertebrae,  or  tail-bones.  ^ 

Division.      Vertehrata — possessing  a  back-bone. 
Class.     Mammalia — such  ns  jrive  suck. 
Order.     Pachydermala — thick-skinned. 


T4  NATURAL  HISTORY    OP  THE   HORSE. 

Family.     SoUpeda — uncleft-footed. 

Genus.     Equus — the  horse  family. 

With  the  horse  are  ranked  all  those  quadrupeds,  whose  generic 
distinction  is  the  undivided  hoof — the  equine  genus. 

Equus  caballus,  the  horse. 

Equus  Hemionus,  the  dziggtai,  Asiatic. 

Equus  Zebra,  the  zebra,  ^ 

Equus  Burchelli,  I  South  African. 

Equus  Quagga,  the  Quagga,    I 

Equus  Asinus,  the  ass.  0 

The  horse  by  far  the  noblest  of  the  genus,  is  easily  distin'' 
guishable  from  the  rest  of  the  group.  His  varieties  are  exceed^ 
ingly  numerous,  and  differ  widely  in  physical  appearance.  Thd 
effects  of  climate  and  other  agencies  are  displayed  in  his  frame. 
It  has  been  asserted,  though  not  upon  suCScient  basis,  that  he 
arrives  at  the  greatest  perfection  between  the  fifteenth  and  fifty- 
fifth  degrees  of  northern  latitude.  The  mare  is  found  capable 
of  generating  her  species  as  early  as  the  second  year  of  her 
existence  ;  but  it  is  detrimental  to  her  form  and  the  future  ener- 
gies of  her  offspring,  thus  prematurely  to  tax  the  productive 
powers  of  her  frame.  It  would  be  far  more  profitable  to  delay 
this  important  function  to  the  fourth  or  fifth  year,  when  the 
outline  of  her  form  approximates  more  closely  to  that  of  the 
adult,  and  the  vital  energies  of  the  animal  economy  become 
more  confirmed.  Mares,  in  common  with  the  females  of  many 
other  quadrupeds,  are  subject  to  a  periodical  appetency  for  the 
male,  which  in  them  is  termed  horsing.  The  natural  season  of 
its  first  occurrence  is  from  the  end  of  March  to  July,  and  so 
providential  is  this  arrangemejit,  that  the  foal  will  be  produced 
at  a  time  when  nourishment  is  plentiful  for  its  support. 


NATURAL   HISTORY   OF   THE    HORSE.  75 

Common  assertion  fixes  the  period  of  gestation,  or  the  time 
intervening  between  conception  and  foaling,  at  eleven  montha  j 
whether  lunar  or  calendar,  is  not  explained.  This  discrepancy 
will  appear  the  more  unsatisfactory,  when  it  is  recollected  tha^i 
eleven  calendar  months  want  but  two  days  of  twelve  lunai 
months.  By  various  investigations  made  in  France,  it  has  been 
established  that  the  term  of  eleven  calendar  months  was  often 
exceeded  by  several  weeks ;  and  sometimes,  though  less  fre- 
quently, parturition  took  place  within  that  period.  Some 
breeders  entertain  an  opinion,  that  old  brood-mares  carry  the 
foal  considerably  longer  than  young  ones ;  but  no  satisfactory 
evidence  is  offered  by  them  in  support  of  this  opinion. 

The  indications  of  approaching  parturition  are  enlargement 
of  the  external  parts  of  generation,  and  a  gummy  exudation 
from  the  orifice  of  the  teats.  Birth  generally  takes  place 
within  twenty-four  hours  after  the  appearance  of  the  latter 
symptom;  but  the  first  acts  as  a  warning,  by  preceding  it  for 
several  days.  It  is  but  seldom  that  the  mare  requires  manual 
assistance  at  the  time  of  foaling,  which  generally  takes  place, 
without  diificulty  or  danger  in  the  night.  The  mare,  unlike  the 
generality  of  quadrupeds,  foals  standing.  She  rarely  produces 
twins,  and  when  double  births  do  occur,  the  offspring  almost 
invariably  die. 

As  great  facility  of  motion  appears  to  have  been  designed  by 
nature  in  the  formation  of  the  horse,  many  physical  peculiarities 
contribute  to  insure  that  end.  A  bulky,  pendulous  udder,  like 
that  possessed  by  some  of  the  ruminantia,  would  be  incom- 
patible with  that  quality.  The  mamma,  therefore,  is  small,  and 
furnished  with  only  two  teats,  which  supply  a  milk  of  a  highly 


76 


NATURAL   HISTORY    OF   THE    HORSE. 


nutritious  cliaracter,  and  possessing  a  largerquantity  of  saccha- 
rine matter  tlian  any  otlier  animal  is  known  to  possess. 

The  disproportionate  length  of  the  foal's  legs,  which  is  so 
strikingly  apparent,  when  compared  with  those  of  the  adult 
animal,  is  thought  by  some  naturalists  to  be  provided  by  pre- 
scient nature  to  enable  the  young  animal  to  keep  pace  with 
its  dam  during  flight  from  any  menacing  danger.  Linnaeus 
attempted  to  ascertain  the  future  height  of  the  colt  by  admea- 
surement of  its  legs ;  but  so  much  is  found  to  depend  upon  the 
quantity  and  character  of  the  nutriment  with  which  it  is  pro- 
vided during  the  period  of  its  growth,  that  little  reliance  can 
be  placed  upon  early  experiments  of  tliis  kind.  The  historian, 
the  warrior,  and  the  horseman,  Xenophon,  has  long  ago 
alluded  to  the  same  subject  in  his  treatise  upon  horsemanship. 
**I  now  explain,"  said  he,  "how  a  man  may  run  the  least  risk 
of  being  deceived,  when  conjecturing  the  future  height  of  a 
horse.  The  young  horse,  which,  when  foaled,  has  the  shank- 
bone  the  longest,  invariably  turns  out  the  largest.  For,  as  time 
advances,  the  shank-bones  of  all  quadrupeds  increase  but  little  ; 
but  that  the  rest  of  the  body  may  be  symmetrical,  it  increases 
in  proportion." 

Puberty  commences  in  both  sexes  as  early  as  the  second  year, 
bat  all  the  structures  continue  to  be  gradually  developed  until 
the  end  of  the  fifth  year,  by  which  time  the  changes  in  the  teeth 
are  perfected,  and  the  muscles  have  acquired  a  growth  and  tone 
which  give  to  the  form  the  distinctives  of  adolescence.  It  is 
during  the  term  which  elapses  between  the  period  of  adult  age 
and  that  of  confirmed  virility,  that  a  further  progressive  change 
takes  place  in  the  animal  economy ;  the  powers  of  the  whole 
frame  continue  to  acquire  strength,  and  although  there  is  no 


NATURAL   HISTORY   OF   THE    HORSE.  it 

further  increase  in  height,  the  parietes  of  the  large  cavities  and 
the  muscles  of  voluntary  motion  assume  a  finished  and  rotund 
appearance,  and  render  the  animal  more  capable  of  enduring 
continued  privation  and.  exertion ;  the  vital  endurance  and  re- 
sistance being  greater  than  during  the  period  of  adolescence. 
The  fire  and  expression  of  the  head,  the  spirit,  character,  and 
disposition,  become  also  more  markecj  toward  the  termination 
of  this  epoch. 

The  natural  period  of  the  decay  of  the  vital  powers,  senility, 
and  mature  death,  may  be  conjectured  to  be  about  thirty  years; 
but  few  horses,  owing  to  our  barbarous  treatment,  attain  that 
term. 

The  walk,  the  trot,  and  the  gallopare  the  usually  well-known 
natural  paces  of  the  horse ;  but  the  fact  of  some  individuals 
contracting  the  pace  called  amble  (which  is  neither  racking  or 
pacing),  without  previous  tuition,  has  induced  many  writers  to 
regard  that  also  as  a  natural  method  of  progression. 

In  England,  and  other  northern  countries,  on  the  approach 
of  mild  weather,  the  horse,  by  a  natural  process,  analogous  to 
moulting  in  birds,  divests  himself  of  his  winter's  clothing  of  long 
hair,  and  produces  one  of  a  shorter  and  cooler  texture ;  and 
again,  before  the  recurrence  of  cold  weather,  reassumes  his  warm 
and  lengthened  coat  to  protect  himself  from  the  inclemency  of 
the  approaching  season.  The  autumnal  change  is  not  by  any 
means  so  general  as  that  which  takes  place  at  the  commence- 
ment of  spring ;  in  America,  however,  at  least  in  the  northern 
parts,  this  change  is  invariable.  The  hair  is  not  so  completely 
changed ;  only  a  portion  of  it  is  thrown  off,  and  that  which  re- 
mains, with  that  which  springs  up,  grows  long,  and  is  adapted 
to  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere.     These  alternate  changes 


*IS  NATURAL   HISTORY   OF  THE   HORSE. 

are  not  so  well  marked  in  countries  possessing  an  even  tem- 
perature, nor  even  are  they  so  plainly  seen  in  horses  kept  in  the 
warm  atmosphere  of  a  close  stable  all  the  year  round.  When 
the  shedding  of  the  coat  commences,  the  bulbs  of  the  old  hair 
become  pale,  and  by  the  side  of  each  a  small  black  globular 
body  is  formed,  which  is  soon  developed  into  the  new  hair. 
Thus  the  matrix  of  the  new  hair  is  not  the  old  bulb,  but  it  is 
based  in  another  productive  follicle.  The  long  hair  of  the 
mane,  tail,  and  fetlocks  is  not  shed  at  definite  periods  with  that 
of  the  body,  but  is  replaced  by  a  shorter  and  more  uniform 
process.  The  hair  of  the  mane  and  tail  will,  if  protected,  grow 
to  an  almost  incredible  length. 

The  property  of  changing  the  color  of  the  hair  with  the 
season,  possessed  by  many  animals  of  the  arctic  region,  adapting 
them  to  the  temperature,  is  also  manifested  in  the  horse,  though 
in  a  much  less  degree,  for  it  may  be  seen  that  when  constantly 
exposed  to  the  elements,  the  long  winter-coat  assumes  a  much 
lighter  hue  than  that  of  its  predecessor. 

The  horse  in  common  with  many  other  animals,  is  provided 
with  a  thin,  sub-cuticular  muscle,  covering  the  shoulders,  flanks, 
and  sides,  whose  use  is  to  corrugate  the  skin,  shake  off  flies, 
and  dislodge  other  annoying  substances. 

The  sense  of  smell  is  so  delicately  acute  in  the  horse,  that 
perhaps  he  is  not  exceeded  in  this  function  by  any  other  animal. 
The  nose  is  provided  with  a  very  extensive  surface  for  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  olfactory  nerve,  by  the  curious  foldings  of  the 
turbinated  bones.  It  is  principally  by  means  of  this  faculty 
that  he  is  enabled  to  distinguish  the  qualities  of  the  plants  upon 
which  he  feeds,  and  to  reject  such  as  are  of  a  noxious  or  poison- 
ous description.     "Nature,"  said  Linnaeus,  "teaches  the  brute 


NATURAL  HISTORY   OF   THE   HORSE.  79 

creation  to  distinguish,  without  a  preceptor,  the  useful  from  the 
hurtful,  while  man  is  left  to  his  own  inquiries."  On  putting 
the  finger  into  the  nostrils,  at  the  upper  and  outward  parts, 
they  pass  into  blind  pouches  of  considerable  dimensions.  These 
curious  cavities  have  nothing  to  do  with  smelling,  because  they 
are  lined  with  a  reflection  of  common  integument,  but  they  may 
possibly  be  of  use  in  mechanically  distending  the  external  en- 
trance of  the  nostrils,  and  thus  materially  facilitate  respiration 
during  violent  exertion.  They  are  also  brought  into  use  when 
the  animal  neighs ;  and  the  Hungarian  soldiery  slit  them  up,  to 
preclude  the  possibility  of  being  prematurely  discovered  to  the 
enemy  by  the  exercise  of  this  habit.  It  is  worthy  of  remark, 
in  this  connection,  that  the  preference  of  Arabs  for  the  mare  to 
the  horse,  for  warlike  purposes,  is  attributable  to  the  fact  that 
they  do  not  neigh  when  they  scent  the  vicinity  of  other  horses, 
as  stallions  invariably  do — the  Arabs  never  attacking,  save  by 
surprise.  Those  nations  which  fight  by  open  force  have  no 
such  preference,  but  mainly  use  the  stallion.  On  the  lower  part 
of  the  nostril,  toward  the  outer  edge,  may  be  seen  the  mouth  of 
a  small  tube,  which  conveys  the  tears  from  the  inner  canthus, 
or  corner  of  the  eye.  It  opens  on  the  skin  just  before  it  joins 
the  lining  membrane  of  the  nose.  This  little  cavity  has  often 
been  mistaken,  by  unqualified  persons,  for  an  ulcer  common  in 
glanderous  affections,  and  the  poor  animal  has  frequently  fallen 
a  victim  to  the  error. 

Their  eyes  are  large  in  proportion  to  those  of  some  other 
quadrupeds,  and  the  pupilar  opening  is  of  an  oblate  elliptic 
form,  with  its  long  axes  parallel  to  the  horizon,  thus  increasing 
the  lateral  field  of  vision.  Round  the  edges  of  the  pupil  is  a 
curious  fringe  of  deep  plum-colored  eminences,  supposed  to  bo 


8'0  NATURAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   HORSK. 

serviceable  in  absorbing  the  superabundant  rays  of  light  which 
may  be  transmitted  to  the  eye.  The  horse's  sight  is  excellent, 
and,  although  not  regarded  as  a  nocturnal  animal,  he  can  dis- 
tinguish objects  at  night  with  great  facility.  There  are  but  few 
horsemen,  who  have  not  benefited  by  this  power,  when  the 
shades  of  night  have  fallen  round  them. 

The  ears  are  comparatively  small,  but  the  conch  is  endowed 
with  extensive  motion,  so  as  to  catch  the  sound  coming  from 


KAMES  APPLIED  TO  THE  VARIOUS  EXTERNAL  PARTS  OP  THE  HORSE. 

any  quarter.  Their  hearing  is  quick,  and  although  blindness 
is  so  distinctively  prevalent  among  horses,  deafness  is  exceed- 
ingly uncommon.  During  sleep,  one  ear  is  usually  directed 
forward,  and  the  other  backward ;  when  on  a  march  at  night, 
in  company,  it  has  been  noticed  "that  those  in  the  front  direct 
their  ears  forward,  those  in  the  rear  backward,  and  those  in  the 
centre  turn  them  laterally,  or  across ;  the  whole  troop  seeming 
thus  to  be  actuated  by  one  feeling,  which  watches  the  general 


NATURAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    HORSE.  ^f 

safety."  In  contests  of  speed  the  ears  are  generally  laid  back- 
wards, so  as  to  afford  no  0}'»position  to  the  rapid  progress  of 
the  animal.  It  must  be  evident,  that  if  the  concave  surfaces 
df  these  organs  be  presented  forward,  they  would  gather  the 
wind,  and  slightly  impede  progression.  Another  reason  as- 
signed for  this  deflection,  is  that  the  animal  may  avoid  the 
inconvenience,  if  not  pain,  which  the  current  of  air,  produced 
by  his  velocit}^  would  inflict  on  that  delicate  organ. 

The  different  vocal  articulations  to  which  the  horse  gives 
utterance,  are  collectively  termed  neighing ;  but  some  variety 
of  intonation  may  be  discovered  in  the  expression  of  its  pas- 
sion? ;  as,  for  instance,  the  cry  of  joy  or  recognition  differs  in  a 
marked  manner  from  that  of  desire  ;  and  anger  from  playfulness. 
The  females  do  not  neigh  so  frequently,  nor  with  so  much  force 
as  the  males.  Castration  is  known  to  have  a  modulating  effect 
upon  the  voice.  It  is  supposed  that  neighin.g  is  produced  by 
the  vibration  of  two  small  triangular  membranes  found  at  the 
extremity  of  the  glottis.  In  the  ass  and  mule,  this  strncture  is 
wanting;  bnt  they  are  provided  with  a  more  singular  apparatus. 
Hollowed  out  of  ihe  thyroid  cartikiges  is  a  small  concavity, 
over  which  is  stretched  a  membrane,  similar  to  the  parchment 
on  the  head  of  a  drum.  When  air  is  forced  behind  this  sub- 
stance, a  very  considerable  noise  is  produced,  though  from  the 
absence  of  muscularity  the  vibrations  are  without  modulation, 
and  consequently  dissonant. 

The  intellectual  char-acter  of  the  horse  is  scarcely  excelled  by 
that  of  any  other  quadruped.  His  perceptions  are  remarkably 
clear,  and  his  memory  excellent.  Attachment  to  those  who 
tend  him  with  kindness,  forms  a  prominent  trait  in  his  character. 
The  feats  which  he  is  often  taught  to  perform,  evince  a  high 


82  NATURAL   HISTORY   OF    THE    HORSE, 

intellectual  capacity.  Travelers  in  the  desert  assure  us  thai 
horses  possess  the  faculty  of  directing  their  course  to  the  nearest 
water,  when  hard  pressed  for  that  necessary  article. 

Horses  swim  with  the  greatest  facility,  and  the  distances  they 
have  been  known  to  perform  in  the  water  exceed  our  expecta- 
tion. A  horse  that  was  wrecked  off  the  coast  of  South  America 
Bwam  seven  miles  to  land,  thus  saving  his  life. 

There  exist  some  important  differences  in  the  animal 
economy  of  the  equine  family  and  that  of  other  herbivorous 
/^nimals,  which,  as  the  inferences  from  them  are  of  some  conse- 
juonce,  it  is  necessary  briefly  to  notice.  The  horse  naturally 
req\s'res  but  little  sleep,  and  even  that  it  often  takes  standing\ 
In  a  Rtate  of  nature,  when  fodder  is  short,  to  support  itself 
propeW;''  it  is  con-pelled  to  graze  twenty  hours  out  of  the 
twenty -ft*,  r.  Eurainating  animals  eat  with  greater  rapidity, 
and  lie  dc.vn  to  chew  the  cud.  The  horse  eats  no  faster  than 
it  digests.  Digestion  in  the  former  is  interrupted  ;  in  the  latter, 
continuous.  This  explains  why  the  horse  has  no  gall-bladder, 
as  it  requires  no  reservoir  for  thai  necessary  fluid  ;  for,  as  fast 
as  the  bile  is  secreted  by  the  liver  it  is  carried  to  the  intestines 
to  perform  its  important  action  on  the  chymous  mass.  The 
stomach  of  the  horse  is  also  remarkably  small  and  simple,  dif- 
fering widely  from  the  capacious  and  complicated  structures 
of  the  ruminantia  ;  but  the  intestines  are  long,  and  the  ccecum 
capable  of  containing  a  large  quantity  of  fluid,  of  which  it  is 
considered  the  receptacle.  The  mamma  of  the  mare  is  by  no 
means  so  pendulous  and  bulky  as  that  of  the  cow.  The  horse's 
feet,  from  their  compact,  undivicccd  nature,  are  much  less  liable 
to  injury  during  fleet  exertion  than  those  of  the  ox.  All  these 
circumstances  teni  to  establish  the  individuality  of  the  horse, 


NATURAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    HORSE.  83 

and  are  so  many  proofs  of  admirable  design  for  the  purposes 
to  which  man  lias  applied  him  ;  for,  without  these  peculiarities, 
he  would  not  be  so  valuable  and  superior,  as  a  beast  of  con- 
tinued and  rapid  motion,  and  would  consequently  occupy  a  very 
inferior  station. 

Linnreus  asserted  that  the  male  horse  was  without  the  rudi- 
mentary mamma  invariably  found  in  the  males  of  other  animals; 
but  this  naturalist  was  mistaken,  for  they  may  be  seen  on  each 
side  of  the  sheath,  and,  although  of  no  possible  use,  still  their 
existence  preserves  the  uniformity  of  nature's  operations. 

The  horse  and  zebra  possess  horny  callosities  on  the  inside 
of  the  fore-legs,  above  the  knees,  and  on  the  hocks  of  the  hind- 
legs  ;  the  ass  and  the  quagga  have  them  only  on  the  fore  ex- 
tremities. 

In  a  state  of  nature,  the  horse  is  purely  a  herbivorous  animal, 
but  under  the  restraint  which  domestication  imposes,  his  habits 
become  changed,  and  grain  and  dry  grasses  form  the  principal 
articles  of  his  diet.  Domestication  is  known  t  j  originate  many 
diseases  totally  unknown  in  a  natural  state,  but  it  appears  to 
have  the  effect  of  augmenting  the  muscular  power  of  the  animal 
far  beyond  its  uncultivated  state. 

It  may  be  remarked,  in  addition  to  what  has  been  previously 
said  as  to  the  limit  of  lift  allotted  to  the  horse,  that  there  is  some 
difficulty  in  estimating  the  natural  average  length  of  his  life,  since 
many  obstacles  oppose  an  inquiry  on  a  scale  of  sufficient  mag- 
nitude to  be  satisfactory.  The  numerous  evils  entailed  on  him 
by  the  arduous  labors  and  the  r  stricted  and  unnatural  habits 
of  a  domesticated  state  tend  gr  iatly  to  abbreviate  life.  From 
these  and  other  reasons,  it  cannot  be  much  doubted  that  his  age 
is  greatly  underrated.     Horses  are  most  erroneously  termed 


81  NATURAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   HORSE.  ' 

aged  on  the  obliteration  of  the  mark  from  the  lower  incisor 
teeth,  which  occurs  by  the  completion  of  the  eighth  year :  and 
though  it  is  far  from  being  the  natural  term  of  age  and  debility, 
or  even  of  the  decline  of  the  vital  energies,  it  too  frequently 
happens,  that  by  that  time  bodily  infirmities  have  been  prema- 
turely induced  by  over-exertion  of  their  powers.  Horses  at 
twenty  years  of  age,  are  often  met  with  in  cases  where  the  least 
humanity  has  been  bestowed  on  their  management.  Eclipse 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  ;  Flying  Childers,  at  twenty-siy. 
Brom's  mare  Maggie  reached  more  than  twenty-nine  years. 
Bucephalus,  the  celebrated  horse  of  Alexander  of  Macedon, 
lived  till  thirty.  The  natural  age  is  probably  between  twenty- 
five  and  thirty.  A  faint  and  uncertain  guide  is  found  in  the 
register  of  the  ages  of  the  most  celebrated  racing  stallions,  re- 
collecting, however,  that  several  of  them  were  destroyed  on 
becoming  useless  for  the  purposes  of  the  turf.  The  united  ages 
of  ninety-three  of  these  horses  amounted  to  two  thousand  and 
five  years ;  or  rather  more  than  twenty-one  and  a  half  years  to 
each  horse. 

As  a  matter  oT  civil  economy,  it  is  important  to  judge  cor- 
rectly of  the  age  of  the  horse.  This  is  chiefly  accomplished 
by  observing  the  natural  changes  which  occur  in  his  teeth,  the 
periods  at  which  they  appear,  are  shed  a.-d  replaced,  and  the 
alterations  in  their  form  and  markings. 

The  teeth  of  most  animals  offer  some  criterion  by  which  their 
age  can  be  estimated  with  more  or  less  accuracy.  The  teeth 
are  nearly  the  sole  indices  of  t  q  age  of  the  horse,  ass,  elephant, 
camel,  dog,  and  the  polled  vari  ities  of  the  ox  and  sheep  ;  while 
in  other  domesticated  animals,  as  the  elk,  deer,  goat,  common 


NATURAL    HISTORY   OF    THE    HORSE;  85 

OX  and  sheep,  the  horns  also  present  legible  indications  of  the 
progress  of  time. 

Reference  to  the  teeth  to  ascertain  the  nge  of  the  horse  is 
not  by  any  means  of  recent  origin.  Xenophon,  in  his  work  on 
horsemanship,  from  which  we  have  already  quoted,  alludes  to 
it  as  an  established  custom  used  in  the  selection  of  cavalry  for 
the  Grecian  armies ;  he  properly  advised  the  rejection  of  such 
horses  as  have  lost  the  dental  mark.  The  same  facts  are  sub- 
sequently noticed  by  Yarro,  Columella,  Yegetius,  and  other 
Roman  writers. 

The  horse,  when  full-mouthed,  possesses  forty  teeth — twenty 
in  each  jaw.     They  are  named  from  their  use,  position,  and 
character.     Those  in  the  front  of  the  mouth,  whose  office  it  is 
to  gather  food  when  grazing,  are  termed  incisors,  or,  more  pro- 
perly, nippei^s.     They  are  twelve  in  number;  six  above,  and 
six  below.   ^They  do  not  overlap  each  other,  as  is  the  case  in 
man,  but  meet  in  a  broad  tabular  surface.     From  these  teeth 
the  age  of  the  animal  is  principally  decfuced.     For  the  sake  of 
description,  they  are  usually  ranged  in  pairs,  as  they  appear; 
and  the  first  pair  is  called  the  central,  the  second  the  dimders, 
and  the  third  the  corner  nijypers.     The  tushes,  or  canines, 
come  next ;  one  above,  and  one  below  on  each  side.     They  are 
of  a  pointed  form,  and   are  convex  on   the  outer  sides,  and 
slightly  concave  on  the  inner  surface.     They  scarcely  ever  ap- 
pear above  the  gums  in  mares,  although  their  rudiments  may 
be  discovered  on  dissection,  imbedded  in  the  maxillary  bones. 
T.hey  are  consequently  regarded  as  sexual  distinctions.     It  is 
difficult  to  assign  their  use ;  their  position  precludes  the  possi- 
bility of  their  being  used  as  weapons  of  offense  or  defense. 
They   may   be  viewed   as  a   link  of  uniformity  so  commonly 


86  NATURAL  HISTORY   OF   THE   HORSE. 

traced  in  the  animated  world.  The  grinders,  or  molars,  are 
twenty-four  in  number.  They  are  teeth  of  great  power.  By 
them  the  food  is  crushed  or  ground  into  small  particles,  and 
prepared  for  the  digestive  action  of  the  stomach.  In  order  to 
fit  them  for  this  office,  they  possess  additional  interlayers  of 
enamel,  which  prevent  their  too  rapid  wear. 

In  common  with  most  animals,  the  horse  is  provided  with 
two  sets  of  teeth ;  those  appearing  first  are  known  as  the  tem- 
porary, deciduous,  or  milk  teeth,  and  are  succeeded  by  the 
permanent  set.  On  comparing  the  different  magnitudes  of  the 
jaw-bones  of  the  colt  and  the  adult  horse,  the  necessity  of  such 
a  change  is  at  once  apparent.  By  it  the  teeth  are  adapted  to 
the  size  of  the  maxillary  bones.  The  teeth,  from  their  peculiar 
character  and  mode  of  growth,  do  not  admit  of  any  material 
increase  of  dimension ;  and  nature  was  therefore  forced  either 
to  place  the  large  permanent  teeth  in  small  and  disproportionate 
jaw-bones,  or  to  adapt  the  size  of  the  teeth  by  displacement  to 
the  growth  of  the  bones  that  contained  them.  The  latter  pro- 
cess is  adopted,  and  constitutes  one  of  those  remarkable 
evidences  of  creative  power,  with  which  the  living  frame  is 
replete. 

Three  substances  enter  into  the  structure  of  the  teeth  ;  first 
the  enamel;  secondly,  the  dental  bone,  or  ivory ;  and  thirdly, 
a  cortical  envelope,  surrounding  the  fang.  The  enamel  differs 
but  little  in  chemical  constitution  from  the  bony  body  of  the 
teeth  ;  and  that  principally  results  from  the  absence  of  animal 
matter  in  it.  It  appears  closely  analogous  to  the  univalve 
porcellaneous  shells,  and  is  the  hardest  and  most  indestructible 
substance  of  the  body.  The  dental  bone  is  distinctly  tubular 
in   structure ;   these  tubuli   taking  a  perpendicular  direction, 


NATURAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    H0R8R.  ^T 

being  exceedingly  small,  but  capable  of  absorbing  ink  by  capil- 
lary attraction.  No  such  tubuli  have  been  traced  in  the  enamel. 
The  teeth,  both  incisors  and  grinders,  are  being  constantly 
worn  away  at  the  crown ;  but  the  loss  is  supplied  by  the  gradual, 
continuous,  and  equivalent  growth  from  the  root.  The  horse's 
teeth  are  sometimes,  but  not  frequently,  subject  to  disease.  It 
is  seldom  that  any  of  them  are  lost  from  age,  as  is  the  case  with 
man,  and  most  other  animals. 

It  has  been  remarked,  that  the  constitution  of  horses  and 
men  may  be  considered  as  in  an  equal  degree  of  perfection 
and  capability  of  exertion,  or  of  debility  and  decay,  according 
as  youth  or  age  preponderates.  Thus,  the  first  five  years  of 
a  horse  may  be  considered  as  equivalent  to  the  first  twenty  in 
man  ;  or  thus,  that  a  horse  five  years  old  may  be  comparatively 
considered  as  a  man  of  twenty ;  a  horse  of  ten  years,  as  a  man 
of  forty  ;  a  horse  of  fifteen,  as  a  man  of  fifty  ;  a  horse  of  twenty, 
as  a  man  of  sixty;  of  twenty-five,  as  a  man  of  seventy;  of 
thirty,  as  a  man  of  eighty ;  of  thirty-five,  as  a  man  of  ninety. 
So  far  from  this  comparison  being  in  favor  of  the  horse,  it  may 
rather  be  regarded  as  too  little.  Horses  of  thirty-five  years 
of  age  are  as  common  as  men  of  ninety,  provided  it  be  taken 
into  account  that  there  are  twenty  human  subjects  for  every 
horse ;  and,  unquestionably,  a  horse  of  forty-five  is  less  rare 
than  a  man  of  one  hundred  and  ten. 

To  this  it  may  be  added,  that  the  early  English  racers 
appear  to  have  been  more  addicted  to  longevity  than  those 
of  modern  days,  and  the  American  horse  generally  than  the 
English ;  probably  because,  in  the  former  case,  the  horse  waa 
not  put  to  hard  work  until  his  powers  were  developed  by  an 
advance  toward  maturity.     Two  and  three  year  old  training 


«« 


NATURAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   HQRSK^ 


EiaHT  days'  TEETn. 


was  unknown  until  a  recent  date  ;  and,  in  the  latter  case,  in 
America  horses  are  little  used  in  harness,  or  for  general  work^ 
until  they  have  attained  to  live  or  six  years. 

We  will  next  consider  the  first  appearance  and  successive 
changes  of  the  teeth,  with  the  marks  and 
their  descriptions  from  commencement  to 
maturity. 

Seven  or  eight  months  before  the  foal  is- 
born,  the  germs  or  beginnings  of  the  teeth 
are  visible  in  the  cavities  of  the  jaws.  At 
the  time  of  birth,  the  first  and  second 
grinders  have  appeared,  large,  compared 
with  the  size  of  the  jaw,  seemingly  filling  it. 
In  the  course  of  seven  or  eight  days,  the  two  centre  nippers 
are  seen  as  here  represented. 

In  the  course  of  the  first  month,  the  third  grinder  appears, 
above  and  below ;  and  not  long  after,  and  generally  before^ 
six  weeks  have  expired,  another  incisor  above  and  below 
will  be  seen  on  each  side  of  the  two  first,  which  have 
now  considerably  grown,  but  not  at- 
tained their  perfect  height.  This  cut 
will  then  represent  the  appearance  of 
the  mouth. 

At  two  months,  the  centre  nippers 
will  have  reached  their  natural  level, 
and  between  the  second  and  third 
month  the  second  pair  will  have  over- 
taken them.  They  will  then  begin 
to  wear  a  little,  and  the  outer 
edge,  which  was  at  first  somewhat- 


THREE   OR    FOUR   MONTHS     TEETH. 


NATURAL   HISTORY   OF   THE    HORSE.  ^ 

raised  and  sharp,  is  brought  to  a  level  with  the  inner 
edge,  and  so  the  mouth  continues  until  some  time  between  the 
sixth  and  ninth  month,  when  another  nipper  begins  to  appear 
on  each  side  of  the  first  two,  making  six  above  and  below,  and 
completing  the  colt's  mouth ;  after  which  the  only  observable 
difference,  until  between  the  second  and  third  year,  is  in  the 
^vear  and  tear  of  these  teeth. 

These  teeth  are  covered  with  a  polished  and  exceedingly 
bard  enamel ;  indeed,  it  is  so  hard  that  it  almost  bids  defiance 
to  the  action  of  a  file.  It  spreads  over  that  portion  of  the 
tooth  which  appears  above  the  gum,  and  not  only  so,  but  as 
they  are  to  be  so  much  employed  in  nipping  np  the  grass  and 
gathering  the  animal's  food — and  in  such  employment  even 
this  hard  substance  must  be  gradually  w^orn  away — a  portion 
of  it,  as  it  passes  over  the  upper  surface  of  the  teeth,  is  bent 
Inward,  and  sunk  into  the  body  of  the  teeth,  and  forms  a  little 
pit  in  them.  The  inside  and  bottom  of  this  pit  being  black- 
ened by  the  food,  constitute  the  mark  in  them,  by  the  gradual 
disappearance  of  which,  in  consequence  of  the  wearing  down 
of  the  teeth,  we  are  enabled  for  several  years  to  judge  of  the 
age  of  the  animal. 

The  colt's  nipping  teeth  are  rounded  in  front,  somewhat 
hollow  toward  the  mouth,  and  presenting  a  cutting  surface, 
with  the  outer  edge  rising  in  a  slanting  direction  above  the 
inner  edge.  This,  however,  soon  begins  to  wear  down,  until 
both  surfaces  are  level,  and  the  mark,  which  was  originally 
long  and  narrow,  becomes  shorter,  wider,  and  fainter.  At 
six  months,  the  four  nippers  are  beginning  to  wear  to  a  level. 

The  annexed  cut  will  convey  some  idea  of  the  appearance 
of  the  teeth  at  twelve  months.      The  four  middle  teeth  are 


90 


NATURAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   HORSE. 


TKETH  AT  TUTELVE  MONTHS. 


almost  level,  and  the  corners  are  becoming  so.     The  mark  ia 
the  two  middle  teeth  is  wide  and  faint,  in  the  next  two  teeth 

it  is  longer,  darker,  and  more 
narrow.  In  the  corner  teeth  it 
is  longest,  darkest,  and  most 
narrow. 

The  back  teeth,  or  grinders, 
will  not  guide  us  far  in  ascer- 
taining the  age  of  the  animal, 
for  we  cannot  easily  inspect 
them  ;  but  there  are  some  inter- 
esting particulars  connected 
with  them.  The  foal  is  born  with  two  grinders  in  each  jaw, 
above  and  below,  or  they  appear  within  two  or  three  days  after 
birth.  Before  the  expiration  of  the  month  they  are  succeeded 
by  a  third,  more  backward.  The  crowns  of  the  grinders  are 
entirely  covered  with  enamel  on  the  tops  and  sides,  but  attrition 
soon  wears  it  away  from  the  top,  and  there  remains  a  compound 
surface  of  alternate  layers  of  crusta  petrosa,  enamel,  and 
ivory,  which  are  employed  in  grinding  down  the  hardest  por- 
tions of  the  food.  Nature  has,  therefore,  made  an  additional 
provision  for  their  strength  and  endur- 
ance The  annexed  cut  represents  a 
grinder  sawed  across.  The  five  dark 
spots  represent  bony  matter;  the  parts 
covered  with  lines  enamel,  and  the  white 
X  GBiNDER  SAWED  ACROSS,  spaccs  Si  stvoug  bouy  ccmcut  uniting  the 
other  portions  of  the  teeth. 

At  the  completion  of  the  first  year  a  fourth  grinder  usually 
comes  up,  and  the  yearling  has  then,  or  soon  afterwards,  six 


NATURAL   HISTORY    OP   THE    HORSE. 


01 


nippers  and  four  grinders  above  and  below  in  each  jaw,  which, 
with  the  alteration  in  the  nippers  just  described,  will  enable  us 
to  calculate  the  age  of  foal,  subject  to  some  variations,  arising 
from  the  period  of  weaning  and  the  nature  of  the  food. 

At  the  age  of  one  year  and  a  half,  the  mark  in  the  central 
nippers  will  be  much  shorter  and  fainter;  that  in  the  two  other 
pairs  will  have  undergone  an 
evident  change,  and  all  the 
nippers  will  be  flat.  At  two 
years  this  will  be  more  mani- 
fest. The  accompanying  cut 
deserves  attention,  as  giving 
an  accurate  representation  of 
the  nippers  in  the  lower  jaw 
of  a  two-year-old  colt. 

About  this  period  a  fifth 
grinder  will  appear,  and  now 
likewise  commences  another 
adapted  to  the  size  and  wants  of  the  young  animal.  They  are 
sufi&ciently  large  to  occupy  and  fill  the  colt's  jaws ;  but  when 
these  bones  have  expanded  with  the  increasing  growth  of  the 
animal,  the  teeth  are  separated  too  far  from  each  other  to  be 
useful,  and  another  and  larger  set  is  required.  The  second 
teeth  then  begin  to  push  up  from  below,  and  the  fangs  of  the 
first  are  absorbed,  until  the  former  approach  the  surface  of  the 
gum,  when  they  drop  out.  "Where  the  temporary  teeth  do  not 
rise  immediately  under  the  milk  teeth,  but  by  their  sides,  the 
latter  being  pressed  sideways  are  absorbed  throughout  their 
whole  length.  They  grow  narrow,  are  pushed  out  of  place, 
and  cause  inconvenience  to  the  gum,  and   sometimes  to  the 


TWO  TEAKS  TEETH. 


process.     The   first    teeth    are 


92 


NATURAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    HORSE. 


cheek.     They  are  then    sometimes    improperly  called   wolf^a 
teeth,  and  shonld  be  extracted. 

The  teeth  which  first  appeared  are  first  renewed,  and  there- 
fore the  front  or  first  grinders  are  changed  at  the  age  of  two 
years.  During  the  period  between  the  falling  out  of  the  central 
milk  teeth,  and  the  coming  up  of  the  permanent  ones,  the  colt, 
having  a  broken  mouth,  may  find  some  difficulty  in  grazing.    If 

he  should  fall  away  consider- 
^-\  ably  in  condition,  he  should 
be  fed  with  mashes  and  corn, 
or  cut  feed.  The  cut  annexed 
represents  a  three-year-old 
mouth. 

The  central  teeth  are 
larger  than  the  others,  with 
two  grooves  in  the  entire 
convex  surface,  and  the  mark 
is  long,  narrow,  deep,  and 
black.  Not  having  yet  attained  their  full  growth,  they  are 
lower  than  the  others.  The  mark  in  the  next  two  nippers  is 
nearly  worn  out,  and  it  is  wearing  away  in  the  corner  nippers. 
Is  it  possible  to  give  this  mouth  to  an  early  two-year-old? 
The  ages  of  all  horses  used  to  be  reckoned  from  the  first  of 
May;  but  some  are  foaled  even  as  early  as  January,  and  being 
actually  four  months  over  the  two  years,  if  they  have  been  well 
nursed  and  fed,  and  are  strong  and  large,  they  may,  with  the 
inexperienced,  have  an  additional  year  put  upon  them.  The 
central  nippers  are  punched  or  drawn  out,  and  the  others  appear 
three  or  four  months  earlier  than  they  otherwise  would.  In  the 
natural  process  they  would  only  rise  by  long  pressing  upon  the 


THREE  YEARS. 


NATURAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   HORSE.  9S 

first  teeth,  and  causing  their  absorption.  But,  opposition  from 
the  first  set  being  removed,  it  is  easy  to  imagine  that  their  pro- 
gress will  be  more  rapid.  Three  or  four  months  will  be  gained 
in  the  appearance  of  these  teeth,  and  these  three  or  four  months 
will  enable  the  breeder  to  term  him  a  late  colt  of  the  preceding 
year.  To  him,  however,  who  is  accustomed  to  horses,  the 
general  form  of  the  animal,  the  little  development  of  the  fore- 
hand, the  continuance  of  the  mark  upon  the  next  pair  of  nippers, 
its  more  evident  existence  in  the  corner  ones,  some  enlarge- 
ment or  irregularity  about  the  gums  from  the  violence  used  in 
forcing  out  the  teeth,  the  small  growth  of  the  first  and  fifth 
grinders,  and  the  non-appearance  of  the  sixth  grinder,  which, 
if  it  be  not  through  the  gum  at  three  years  old,  is  swelling  under 
it,  and  preparing  to  get  through — any  or  all  of  these  circum- 
stances, carefully  attended  to,  will  be  a  sufficient  security  against 
deception. 

A  horse  at  three  years  old  ought  to  have  the  central  per- 
manent nippers  growing,  the  other  two  pairs  wasting,  six 
grinders  in  each  jaw,  above  and  below,  the  first  and  fifth  level, 
the  others  and  the  sixth  protruding.  The  sharp  edge  of  new 
incisors,  although  it  could  not  well  be  expressed  in  the  cut,  wil] 
be  very  evident  when  compared  with  the  old  teeth. 

As  the  permanent  nippers  wear  and  continue  to  grow,  a 
narrow  portion  of  the  cone-shaped  tooth  is  exposed  by  the 
attrition,  and  they  look  as  if  they  had  been  compressed,  but  it 
is  not  so,  Kot  only  will  the  mark  be  wearing  out,  but  the 
-rowns  of  the  teeth  will  be  sensibly  smaller. 

At  three  years  and  a  half,  or  between  that  and  four,  the  next 
^•>air  of  nippers  will  be  changed,  and  the  mouth  at  that  time 
cannot  be  mistaken.     The  central  nippers  will  have  attained 


n 


NATURAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   HORSE. 


nearly  their  full  growth.  A  vacuity  will  be  left  where  the 
second  stood,  or  they  will  begin  to  peep  above  the  gum,  and 
the  corner  ones  will  be  diminished  in  breadth^  worn  down,  and 
the  mark  becoming  small  and  faint.  At  this  period,  likewise, 
the  second  pair  of  grinders  will  be  shed.  Previously  to  this 
may  be  the  attempt  of  the  dealer  to  give  to  his  three-year-old 
an  additional  year;  but  the  fraud  will  be  detected  by  an  ex- 
amination similar  to  that  already  described. 

At  four  years,  the  central  nippers  will  be  fully  developed ; 
the  sharp  edge  somewhat  worn  off,  and  the  mark  shorter,  wider, 
and  fainter.     The  next  pair  will  be  up,  but  they  wiU  be  small, 

with   tlie  mark   deep  and 
ifc^i^^>j{^^>:ii^>a^  extendino;    quite    across 


them  as  in  the  annexed 
cut.  The  corner  nippers 
'4^f'  i  will  be  larger  than  the  in- 
side ones,  yet  smaller  than 
they  were,  and  flat,  and  the 
mark  nearly  eflfaced.  The 
sixth  grinders  will  have 
risen  to  a  level  with  the 
others,  and  the  tushes  will 
begin  to  appear. 
Now,  more  than  at  any  other  time,  will  the  dealer  be  anxious 
to  put  an  additional  year  upon  the  animal,  for  the  difference 
between  a  four-year-old  colt  and  a  five-year-old  horse,  in 
strength,  utility,  and  value,  is  very  great;  but  the  want  of  wear 
in  the  other  nippers,  the  small  size  of  the  corner  ones,  the  little 
growth  of  the  tush,  the  smallness  of  the  second  grinder,  the  low 
forehand,  the  legginess  of  the  colt,  and  the  thickness  and  little 


FOUR  YEARS. 


NATURAL   HISTORY   OF   THE    HORSE. 


95 


depth  of  the  mouth,  will,  to  a  man  of  common  experience 
among  horses,  at  ouce  detect  the  cheat. 

The  tushes  are  four  in  number,  two  in  each  jaw,  situated 
between  the  nippers  and  the  grinders,  much  nearer  to  the 
former  than  the  latter,  and  nearer  in  the  lower  jaw  than  in  the 
upper,  but  this  distance  increases  in  both  jaws  with  the  age. 
In  shape,  the  tush  somewhat  resembles  a  cone ;  it  protrudes 
from  the  gum  about  half  an  inch,  and  is  sharp-pointed  and  curved. 
The  appearance  of  this  tush  in  the  horse  may  vary  from  four 
years  to  four  years  and  six  months.  It  c^n  only  be  accelerated  a 
few  weeks  by  cutting  the  gum  over  it.  At  four  years  and  a  half,  or 
between  that  and  five,  the  last  important  change  takes  place  in 
the  mouth  of  the  horse.  The  corner  nippers  are  shed,  and  the 
permanent  ones  begin  to  appear.  The  central  nippers  are  con- 
siderably worn,  and  the  next  pair  are  commencing  to  show 
marks  of  usage.  The  tnsh  has  now  protruded,  and  is  generally 
a  full  half  inch  in  height ;  externally,  it  has  a  rounded  promi- 
nence, with  a  groove  on 
either  side,  and  it  is  evi- 
dently hollowed  within. 
The  reader  scarcely  needs 
to  be  told  that  after  the 
rising  of  the  corner  nip- 
per, the  animal  changes 
its  name.  The  colt  be- 
comes a  horse,  the  filly  a 
mare. 
At  five  years,  the 
horse's  mouth  is  almost  perfect,  as  represented  in  the  annexed 
cut.     The  corner  nippers  are  quite  up,  with  the  long,  deep 


riTE  TEARS. 


9& 


NATURAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   HORSE. 


mark  irregular  in  the  inside,  and  the  other  nippers  bearing  evi- 
dent tolvens  of  increased  wearing.  The  tush  is  much  grown ; 
the  grooves  have  aUnost  or  quite  disappeared,  and  the  outer 
surface  is  regularly  convex.  It  is  still  as  concave  within,  and 
with  the  edge  nearly  as  sharp,  as  it  was  six  months  before. 
The  sixth  molar  is  quite  up,  and  the  third  molar  is  wanting. 
This  last  circumstance,  if  the  general  appearance  of  the  animal, 
and  particularly  his  forehand,  and  the  wearing  of  the  centre 
nippers,  and  the  growth  and  shape  of  the  tushes  be  likewise 
carefully  attended  to,  will  prevent  deception,  if  a  late  four- 
year-old  is  attempted  to  be  substituted  for  a  five-year-old. 
The  nippers  may  be  brought  up  a  few  months  before  their  time, 
and  the  tushes  a  few  weeks,  but  the  grinder  is  with  difficulty 
displaced.     The  last  three  grinders  and  the  tushes  are  never 

shed. 

At  six  years,  as  in  the 

annexed  cut,  the  mark  on 
the  central  nippers  is  worn 
out.  There  will  still  be 
a  difference  of  color  in 
the  centre  of  the  tooth. 
The  cement  filling  up  the 
hole,  made  by  the  dipping 
of  the  enamel,  will  pre- 
sent a  browner  hue  than 
the  other  parts  of  the 
tooth  ;  and  it  will  be  evi- 
dently surrounded  by  an  edge  of  enamel,  and  there  will  remain 
ever  a  little  depression  in  the  centre,  and  also  a  depression 
round  the  case  of  enamel ;  but  the  deep  hole  in  the  centre  of 


BIX   YEARS. 


NATURAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    HORSE. 


97 


the  teeth,  with  the  blackened  surface  which  it  presents,  and 
the  elevated  edge  of  enamel,  will  have  disappeared.  Persons 
not  much  accustomed  to  horses  have  been  puzzled  here.  They 
expected  to  find  a  plain  surface  of  uniform  color,  and  knew  not 
what  conclusion  to  draw  when  there  were  both  discoloration 
and  irregularity. 

In  the  next  incisors,  the  mark  is  shorter,  broader,  and  fainter, 
and  in  the  corner  teeth  the  edges  of  the  enamel  are  more  regu- 
lar, and  the  surface  is  evidently  worn.  The  tush  has  attained 
its  fall  growth,  being  nearly  or  quite  an  inch  long,  convex 
outward,  concave  within,  tending  to  a  point,  and  the  extremity 
somewhat  curved.  The  third  grinder  is  fairly  up,  and  all  the 
grinders  are  level. 

The  horse  may  now  be  said  to  have  a  perfect  month.  All 
the  teeth  are  produced,  fully  grown,  and  have  sustained  no 
material  injury.  During  these  important  changes  of  the  teeth, 
the  animal  has  suffered  less  than  could  be  supposed  possible* 

At  seven  years,  as  in  the 
accompanying  cut,  the  mark, 
in  the  way  in  which  it  has 
been  described,  is  worn  out 
in  the  four  central  nippers, 
and  is  fast  wearing  away  in 
the  corner  teeth  ;  the  tush  is 
also  beginning  to  be  altered. 
It  is  rounded  at  the  point, 
rounded  at  the  edges,  still 
round  without,  and  beginning  to  get  round  inside. 

At  eight  years  old,  the  tush  is  rounder  in  every  way  ;  the 
mark  is  gone  from  all  the  bottom  nippers,  and  it  may  almost 
T 


SEVEN   YEARS. 


98 


NATURAL  HISTORY   OF  THE   HORSE. 


be  said  to  be  out  of  the  mouth.  There  is  nothing  remaining 
in  the  bottom  nippers  that  can  clearly  show  the  age  of  the 
horse,  or  justify  the  most  experienced  examiner  in  giving  a 
positive  opinion.  This  should  be  distinctly  borne  in  mind,  as 
it  is  a  very  common  error  in  the  United  States,  and  one  especi- 
ally insisted  on  by  dealers  having  old  horses  to  sell,  that  the 
age  can  be  positively  ascertained  even  to  ten,  eleven,  or  twelve 
years,  so  that  it  can  be  predicated  of  a  horse  that  he  is  so  old, 
and  no  older.  This  is  an  absolute  fallacy.  It  is  easy,  from 
many  general  signs,  to  see  that  a  horse  is  above  eight  years 
old ;  but  it  is  impossible  to  judge  certainly  how  much  older. 
The  length  and  angularity  of  the  nippers,  the  depth  of  the 
super-orbital  cavities,  and  other  points  of  information,  may 
enable  a  good  judge  to  guess  comparatively,  but  never  to  speak 
surely. 

Dishonest  dealers  have  been  said  to  resort  to  a  method  of 
prolonging  the  mark  on  the  lower  nippers.  It  is  called  Bish- 
oping,  from  the  name  of  the  scoundrel  who  invented  it.     The 

horse  of  eight  or  nine  years 
old — whose  mouth  is  repre- 
sented in  the  accompany- 
ing cut  —  is  thrown,  and 
with  an  engraver's  tool  a 
hole  is  dug  in  the  now  al- 
most plain  surface  of  the 
corner  teeth,  in  shape  re- 
sembling the  mark  yet  left 
EIGHT  OR  NINE  TEAB8.  iu  thosc  of  &  scveu-year- 

old  horse.  The  hole  is  then  burned  with  a  heated  iron,  and 
a  permanent  black  stain  is  left.     The  next  pair  of  nippers  is 


NATURAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  HORSE.  t^#. 

Bometimes  slightly  touched.  An  ignorant  man  would  be  very 
easily  deceived  by  this  trick  ;  but  the  irregular  appearance  of 
the  cavity,  the  diffusion  of  the  black  stain  around  the  tushes, 
the  sharpened  edges  and  concave  inner  surface  of  which  can 
never  be  given  again,  the  marks  on  the  upper  nippers,  together 
with  the  general  conformation  of  the  horse,  can  never  deceive 
the  careful  examiner. 

Horsemen,  after  the  animal  is  eight  years  old,  are  accustomed 
to  look  to  the  nippers  in  the  upper  jaw,  and  some  conclusion 
has  been  drawn  from  the  appearances  which  they  present.  It 
cannot  be  doubted  that  the  mark  remains  in  them  for  some 
years  after  it  has  been  obliterated  in  the  nippers  of  the  lower 
jaw. 

There  are  various  opinions  as  to  the  intervals  between  the 
disappearance  of  the  mark  from  the  different  cutting  teeth  of 
the  upper  jaw.  Some  have  averaged  it  at  two  years,  others  at 
one.  The  latter  opinion  is  more  commonly  adopted  by  those 
most  conversant,  and  then  the  age  is  thus  determined.  At 
nine  years,  the  mark  will  be  worn  from  the  middle  nippers ; 
from  the  next  pair  at  ten  ;  and  from  all  the  upper  nippers  at 
eleven.  During  these  periods  the  tush  is  likewise  undergoing 
a  manifest  change.  It  is  blunter,  shorter,  and  rounder.  In 
what  degree  this  takes  place  in  the  different  periods,  long  and 
favorable  opportunities  can  alone  enable  the  horseman  to 
decide. 

The  alteration  in  the  form  of  the  tushes  is  frequently  uncer- 
tain. It  will  sometimes  be  blunt  at  eight  j  and  at  others  re- 
main pointed  at  eighteen. 

After  eleven,  and  until  the  horse  is  very  old,  the  age  may 
be  guessed  at  with  some  degree  of  confidence,  from  the  shape 


100  NATURAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   HORSE. 

of  the  upper  surface  or  extremity  of  the  nippers.  At  eight 
they  are  all  oval,  the  length  of  the  oval  running  across  from 
tooth  to  tooth ;  but  as  the  horse  gets  older,  the  teeth  diminish 
in  size — and  this  commencing  in  their  width,  and  not  in  their 
thickness.  They  become  a  little  apart  from  each  other,  and 
their  surfaces  become  round  instead  of  oval.  At  nine,  the 
centre  nippers  are  evidently  so  ;  at  ten,  the  others  begin  to  have 
their  ovals  shortened.  At  eleven,  the  second  pair  of  nippers 
is  quite  rounded ;  and  at  thirteen,  the  corner  ones  have  also 
that  appearance.  At  fourteen,  the  faces  of  the  central  nippers 
become  somewhat  triangular.  At  seventeen,  they  are  all  so. 
At  nineteen,  the  angles  begin  to  wear  off,  and  the  central 
teeth  are  again  oval,  but  in  a  reversed  direction,  viz.,  from 
outward,  inward;  and  at  twenty-one,  they  all  w^ear  this 
form. 

It  would,  of  course,  be  folly  to  expect  any  thing  like  a 
certainty  in  an  opinion  of  the  exact  age  of  an  old  horse,  as 
drawn  from  the  above  indications.  It  is  contended  by  some, 
though  denied  by  others,  that  stabled  horses  have  the  marks 
sooner  worn  out  than  those  that  are  at  grass ;  and  crib-biters 
still  sooner.  At  nine  or  ten,  the  bars  of  the  mouth  become 
less  prominent,  and  their  regular  diminution  will  designate  in- 
creasing age.  At  eleven  or  twelve,  the  lower  nippers  change 
their  original  upright  direction,  and  project  forward  horizon- 
tally, becoming  of  a  yellow  color. 

The  general  indications  of  old  age,  independent  of  the 
teeth,  are  the  deepening  of  the  hollows  over  the  eyes ;  gray 
hairs,  and  particularly  over  the  eyes,  and  about  the  muzzle; 
thinness  and  hanging  down  of  the  lips ;  sharpness  of  the 
withers,  sinking  of  the  back,  lengthening  of  the  quarters  ;  and 


NATURAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    HORSE.  101 

the  disappearance  of  windgalls,  spavins,  and  tumors  of  every 
kind. 

Horses  kindly  and  not  prematurely  used,  sometimes  live  to 
between  thirty-five  and  forty-five  years  of  age ;  and  a  well 
authenticated  account  is  given  of  a  barge  horse  that  died  in 
his  sixty-second  year. 

Under  this  head  of  age,  nothing  beyond  the  cut  of  the  com- 
plete aged  mouth,  with  the  accompanying  description  of  it, 
would  have  been  here  inserted,  were  it  not  for  the  prevalent 
opinion,  inculcated  by  interested  dealers  in  the  United  States, 
that  the  age  of  a  horse,  after  eight  or  nine  years,  can  be  as 
certainly  and  as  exactly  predicated  by  mouth-mark,  and  his 
exact  age  guaranteed  accordingly,  as  previously  to  that 
period. 

Summing  up  all  that  need  be  offered  on  this  particular  point, 
we  simply  say,  that  if  one  chooses  to  buy  a  horse  past  mark 
of  mouth,  he  must  do  so  on  his  own  judgment  and  at  his  own 
risk  ;  for  to  credit  any  assertions,  or  to  give  ear  to  any  horse- 
dealer's  opinion  on  the  subject,  is  sheer  folly. 


^Relative  to  Breeding, — a  very  iraportaot 
N  subject,  all  will  admit — two  very  common  mis- 
p^ takes  are  made;  the  first,  that  mares  are  bred 
from  only  because  they  are  useless  for  work, 
and  consequently  have  to  be  turned  out  to  grass 
for  the  season  ;  the  second,  that  a  mare  is  put  to  a  handsome 
horse  which  may  chance  to  strike  the  fancy  of  her  owner,  without 
a  jioment's  consideration  on  the  part  of  the  latter  as  to  how  far 
feifi  particula:  mare  is  suited  to  that  particular  horse.     The 


BREEDING   AND    MANAGEMENT.  103 

consequence  of  the  first  error  is,  that  the  infirmities  of  the  mare 
are  perpetuated  in  her  unfortunate  offspring,  and  thus  become 
hereditary,  to  the  no  small  disappointment  of  the  breeder.  In 
the  second  case  mentioned,  the  result  is  an  indescribable 
mongrel,  possessing  only  a  combination  of  bad  qualities,  without 
a  single  redeeming  trait. 

Now,  no  principle  is  better  established  in  breeding  than  that 
"like  will  produce  likej'Mn  other  words,  that  the  offspring  will 
inherit  the  general  or  mingled  qualities  of  the  parents.  So 
true  is  this,  that  there  is  scarcely  a  disease  affecting  either  of 
the  parents  that  is  not  inherited  by  the  foal,  or,  at  least,  to  which 
he  does  not  at  times  show  a  predisposition.  The  consequences 
of  bad  usage  or  hard  work  even  will  descend  to  the  progeny. 
Though  the  defects  may  not  appear  in  the  immediate  offspring, 
they  often  do  in  the  next,  or  some  succeeding  generation. 
Some  knowledge  is  therefore  indispensable  of  the  parentage 
both  of  the  sire  and  the  dam. 

Both  parents  should  be  selected  with  reference  not  only  to 
their  individual  points  of  excellence,  but  also  to  the  relative 
adaptation  which  the  points  of  one  present  to  the  points  of  the 
other.  Though  both  may  be  excellent  in  their  way,  one  parent 
may  have  points  of  excellence  which  actually  counteract  or  neu- 
tralize those  of  the  other.  None  but  sound  parents,  therefore, 
should  be  bred  from  ;  accidents,  however,  are  not  to  be  regarded 
as  unsoundness ;  but  if  a  defect  exists  in  a  mare  which  is  in- 
tended for  breeding,  the  breeder  should  be  certain  that  such 
defect  is  a  mere  accident,  and  not  a  natural  malformation. 
Both  parents  should  also  be  as  free  from  moral  as  from  physical 
infirmity ;  from  faults  or  vices  of  temper  or  disposition.  Although 
a  defect  of  one  parent  may  sometimes  be  counteracted  by  a  pre- 


104  BREEDING   AND   MANAGEMENT. 

ponderating  excellence  relative  to  that  defect  in  the  other,  great 
care  is  necessary  that  both  parents  do  not  possess  the  same  de- 
fect. If  one  would  be  perfectly  certain  in  breeding,  it  is  better  to 
avoid  even  such  mares  as  have  suffered  merely  from  accident ;  nor 
should  the  mare  be  put  to  the  horse  at  too  early  an  age,  if  one 
would  avoid  the  hazard  of  obtaining  an  unreliable  offspring. 

The  best  form  of  a  mare  from  which  to  breed,  for  any  pur- 
pose, is  a  short-legged,  lengthy  animal,  with  a  deep,  roomy 
chest  and  carcass,  wide  and  capacious  hips,  and  a  sound 
constitution.  "Breed,"  of  course,  must  be  looked  for,  accord- 
ing to  the  class  of  horses  to  which  the  mare  belongs  ;  a  good, 
animated  countenance,  an  upright,  sprightly  carriage ;  general 
structure  of  muscle,  bone  and  sinew  firm,  dense,  and  compact. 
The  head  of  the  brood-mare  is  an  important  point  to  be  re- 
garded ;  a  mare  that  has  a  heavy  head  and  a  stupid  countenance 
cannot  breed  a  good  foal,  unless  to  a  horse  possessed  of  fire 
almost  to  madness — for  her  countenance  indicates  her  disposi- 
tion. The  neck  should  be  brought  out  of  the  top  of  the  withers, 
and  not  of  the  bottom  of  the  shoulders  and  chest ;  the  shoulders 
should  be  well  back,  the  blade-bone  lying  obliquely  from  the 
shoulder  joint ;  the  blade  should  also  be  long  and  wide,  extend- 
ing nearly  to  the  top  of  the  withers,  but  attached  so  closely  and 
so  well  covered  with  muscle  as  not  to  present  any  undue  pro- 
minence ;  the  back  of  the  shoulder  should  also  be  well  furnished 
with  muscle,  appearing  to  the  mounted  rider  of  a  wedge  shape 
widening  towards  his  knee ;  the  fore-leg  should  be  perpendicular, 
the  toe  and  the  point  of  the  shoulder  being  in  a  right  line ;  the 
foot  should  be  round,  even,  and  of  a  dark  color ;  the  heels  should 
be  open,  but  not  low ;  the  brisket  should  be  deep,  especially  in 
the  case  of  a  riding-horse,  as  otherwise  a  crupper  will  be  re- 


BREEDING    AND    MANACIEMENT. 


105 


quired  to  keep  the  saddle  in  its  proper  place  ;  tlie  quarters  sliould 
be  long  and  oval  on  the  top  ;  the  hips  cannot  be  too  broad  in 
a  brood-mare,  though  in  a  stallion  too  wide  hips  are  objection- 
able ;  the  hocks  should  be  regarded,  and  the  shank-bone  and 
sinew,  both  before  and  behind,  should  be  well  developed,  and 
dropped  straight  below  the  joint. 

As  to  the  shape  of  the  stallion  little  satisfactory  can  be  said. 
It  must  depend  upon  that  of  the  mare,  and  the  kind  of  horse 
wished  to  be  bred  ;  but,  if  there  is  one  point  absolutely  essential, 
^-- ''  ~  ~~-^it  is  compactness — as   much 

^^^  goodness  and  strength 
as  possible  condensed 
into   a  small    space. 
Next  to  compactness, 
the  inclination  of  the 
:=^^  shoulder  should 
;  be  regarded.     A 
;^huge  stallion, 
^p  with     upright 
THE  ARAB  STALLION  JUPITER.  shoulders,     ncvcr 

got  a  capital  hunter  or  hackney;  from  such  nothing  but  a 
cart  or  dray  horse  can  be  obtained,  and  that,  perhaps,  spoiled 
by  the  opposite  form  of  the  mare.  If,  however,  a  merely  slow 
draught-horse  is  desired,  an  upright  shoulder  is  desirable,  if  not 
absolutely  necessary. 

The  principal  requirements  in  connection  with  breeding  may 
be  concisely  summed  up  as  follows  : — 

Firat.  There  should  be  mutual  adaptation  in  form  and  size, 
and  indeed  in  all  important  characteristics,  between  the  sire  and 
the  dam. 


106  BREEDING   AND   MANAGEMENT. 

Second.  If  the  mare  be  defective  in  any  particular,  she  should 
not  be  bred  to  a  stallion  having  a  similar,  or  even  an  opposite, 
fault ;  but  one  should  rather  be  chosen  perfect  in  that  point. 

Third.  Exceedingly  small  mares  should  not  be  bred  with 
enormously  large  horses  ;  distortions  will  generally  be  the  result. 
For  a  mare  of  sixteen  hands,  a  horse  of  not  less  than  fifteen 
hands  should  be  selected  ;  if  she  be  too  low  or  small,  the  horse 
maybe  an  inch  or  two  higher,  but  not  of  the  tall  or  leggy  kind. 

Fourth.  As  it  is  frequently  the  case,  that  without  any  known 
cause  the  blood  of  a  certain  kind  of  horses  will  not  cross  well 
with  that  of  another,  such  instances  when  ascertained  should  be 
avoided. 

Fifth.  If  the  mare  is  of  a  good  kind  of  horses,  but  one  which 
has  degenerated  in  size  from  "in-breeding,"  (that  is,  from  con- 
tinuous breeding  into  the  same  family  and  blood — with  their 
own  daughters  and  grand-daughters,  in  other  words — for  about 
two  generations,)  the  only  remedy  is,  to  breed  to  the  purest 
stallion  that  can  be  found,  but  of  a  different  kind  from  hers, 
unless  some  ten  or  more  generations  removed. 

Sixth.  After  breeding  for  several  generations  from  males  and 
females  of  one  kind,  it  is  generally  beneficial  to  change  to 
another  entirely  different ;  otherwise  degeneracy  in  size  will  be 
the  general  result. 

The  mare  should  not  be  put  to  horse  under  three  years  of 
age.  Although  some  contend  that,  if  lightly  worked,  she  may 
be  used  for  breeding  until  she  is  twenty,  yet  it  is  very  doubtful 
whether  breeding  from  any  mare  over  twelve  years  old,  at  the 
very  utmost,  will  prove  satisfactory.  If  a  large  colt  is  desired, 
have  a  large  mare  ;  as  her  size  has  generally  more  to  do  with 
the  matter  than  that  of  the  stallion.     The  most  favorable  time 


BREEDING    AND    MANAGEMENT.  10| 

for  putting  the  mare  to  the  horse  is  from  March  to  the  begin- 
ning of  May ;  colts  foaled  in  March  are  generally  found  to  turn 
out  hardier,  and  to  stand  better,  than  those  foaled  earlier. 

From  the  time  of  covering  to  within  a  few  days  of  the  ex- 
pected period  of  foaling,  the  cart-mare  may  be  kept  at  moderate 
labor  not  only  without  injury,  but  with  decided  advantage. 
She  should  then  be  released  from  work  and  kept  near  home 
under  the  frequent  inspection  of  some  careful  person.  When 
nearly  half  the  time  of  pregnancy  has  elapsed,  she  should  have 
a  little  better  food,  being  allowed  one  or  two  feeds  of  grain  in 
the  day.  As  this  is  about  the  time  when  they  are  accustomed 
to  slink  their  foals,  or  when  abortion  occurs,  the  owner's  eye 
should  be  frequently  upon  her.  Good  feeding  and  moderate 
exercise  are  the  best  preventives  of  this  mischance.  As  the 
mare  that  has  once  slunk  her  foal  is  liable  to  a  repetition  of 
this  accident,  she  should  never  be  suffered  to  be  with  other 
mares  between  the  fourth  and  fifth  months ;  for  so  great  is  the 
power  of  sympathy  or  imagination  in  the  mare  that  if  one 
suffers  abortion,  others  in  the  same  pasture  will  too  often  share 
the  same  fate.  Farmers  frequently  suppose  that  such  mishaps 
originate  from  some  infection  ;  and  many  wash  and  paint  and 
tar  their  stables  to  prevent  an  infection  that  really  lies  in  the 
imagination. 

The  period  of  pregnancy  varies  from  forty-four  to  fifty-six 
weeks,  but  it  is  usually  from  forty-seven  to  fifty.  If  the  mare, 
whether  of  pure  or  common  breed,  be  cared  for  as  suggested 
above,  and  be  in  good  health  while  in  foal,  little  danger  will 
attend  the  act  of  giving  birth  to  the  young.  Should  there  be, 
however,  false  presentation  of  the  foetus,  or  any  difficulty  in  pro- 
ducing it,  recourse  should  be  had  to  a  well-informed  veterinary 


108  BREEDING   AND   MANAGEMENT. 

surgeon,  rather  than  to  run  the  risk  of  injuring  the  mare  by 
violent  attempts  to  relieve  her. 

After  the  mare  has  foaled,  she  should  be  turned  into  some 
well-sheltered  pasture,  with  a  shed  or  hovel  into  which  she  may- 
run  when  she  pleases.  If  she  has  foaled  early  and  the  grass 
is  scanty,  she  should  have  a  feed  or  two  of  oats  or  Indian  corn 
daily  ;  if  the  corn  is  given  in  a  trough  upon  the  ground,  the  foal 
will  partake  of  it  with  her.  Nothing  is  gained  at  this  time  by 
starving  the  mare  and  stinting  the  foal.  When  the  new  grass 
is  plentiful,  the  quantity  of  grain  may  be  gradually  diminished. 
The  proper  care  of  young  foals  will  repay  a  hundred-fold  ;  this 
being,  indeed,  the  most  critical  period  of  the  animal's  life,  when 
attention  or  neglect  prouuccs  the  most  noticeable  and  permanent 
results. 

If  convenient,  the  foal  may  be  permitted  to  run  for  twelve 
months  at  the  foot  of  the  mare ;  but  when  mares  are  kept  ex- 
pressly for  breeding  purposes,  many  circumstances  render  this 
objectionable.  Within  about  a  month  or  six  weeks  from  foal- 
ing the  mare  will  be  again  in  heat,  and  should  be  put  to  the 
horse ;  at  the  same  time,  also,  if  she  is  used  for  agricultural 
purposes,  she  may  resume  light  work.  At  first,  the  foal  should 
be  shut  up  in  the  stable  during  working  hours  ;  but,  as  it  ac- 
quires sufficient  strength,  it  is  better  to  allow  it  to  follow  its 
dam.  The  work  will  contribute  to  the  health  of  the  mother, 
and  increase  her  flow  of  milk ;  and  the  foal,  by  accompanying 
her,  will  suck  more  frequently,  thrive  better,  become  tamed, 
and  gradually  familiarized  with  the  objects  among  which  it  is 
afterv/ard  to  live.  While  the  mare  is  thus  worked,  she  and  the 
foal  should  be  well  fed  ;  and  two  feeds  of  corn,  at  least,  should 
be  added  to  the  green  food  which  they  get  when  turned  out 
after  their  work,  and  at  ui^^'ht. 


BREEDING   AND   MANAGEMENT.  109 

In  five  or  six  months,  according  to  the  growth  of  the  foal, 
it  may  be  weaned.  For  this  purpose,  it  should  either  be 
housed,  or  turned  into  some  pasture  at  a  distance  from  the 
dara.  The  mare  should  be  put  to  harder  work  and  drier  food. 
If  her  milk  is  troublesome,  or  she  pines  after  her  foal,  a  few 
purgatives  (one  or  two  urine-balls,  or  a  physic  ball)  will  be 
found  useful.  The  foal  should  be  fed  well  and  liberally  every 
morning  and  evening,  bruised  oats  and  bran  being  about  the 
best  kind  of  food  which  can  be  given.  The  money  so  laid  out 
upon  the  liberal  nourishment  of  the  colt,  is  well  expended  ; 
yet,  while  he  is  well  fed,  he  should  not  be  rendered  delicate  by 
excess  of  care.  Toward  the  end  of  summer  the  foal  may  be 
turned  out  to  general  pasture  without  fear  of  his  again  seeking 
his  dam. 

Should  the  foal  be  a  male,  and  emasculation  be  desirable,  it 
is  better  to  perform  the  operation  at  the  time  of  weaning,  that 
the  one  trouble  shall  serve  for  both  occasions.  If,  however, 
weaning  take  place  in  June  or  July,  when  the  fly  abounds,  the 
operation  should  not  be  performed,  as  this  insect  by  its  attacks 
will  cause  restlessness  and  consequent  inflammation,  and  thus 
retard  recovery.  Early  spring,  or  an  advanced  period  of 
autumn,  is  the  best  time.  This  operation  should  in  no  instance 
be  performed  by  any  other  than  a  competent  veterinary  sur- 
geon. One  thing  in  this  connection  should  be  mentioned ; 
when  a  horse  is  sufi'ered  to  attain  two-thirds  of  his  growth 
before  emasculation,  an  animal  is  obtained  of  form,  power,  and 
value  far  superior  to  that  which  has  been  operated  upon  when 
a  foal.  This  much  is  deserving  of  remembrance  ;  though  we 
cannot  omit  heartily  condemning  the  practice  of  emasculation 
at  all. 


110 


BREAKING. 


BKEAKING. 


BEEAKINQ. 

No  greater  mistake  can  be  made  than  the  postponement 
of  this  part  of  the  rearing  of  a  horse.  It  should  always 
commence  as  soon  as  the  colt  is  weaned,  or  immediately  after 
the  effects  of  the  emasculation  have  disappeared ;  it  should 

in  this  manner  be  commenced 
and  carried  on  gradually,  with 
gentleness  and  kind- 
ness. The  foal  should 
be  daily  handled,  par- 
tially dressed,  accus- 
tomed to  the  halter 
when  led  about,  and 
even  tied  up  occasion- 
ally for  an  hour  or  so. 
The  tractability,  good  temper,  and  value  of  the  horse  depend 
much  more  upon  this  than  most  breeders  consider.  The  person 
who  feeds  the  colt  should  have  the  entire  management  of  him 
at  this  period,  and  he  should  be  a  trustworthy  person,  possessed 
of  a  quiet,  uniform  temper  and  a  kindly  disposition.  Many 
a  horse  is  spoiled  and  rendered  permanently  untamable  by 
early  harshness  or  improper  treatment ;  and  many  a  horse  that 
otherwise  would  have  proved  a  vicious,  unmanageable  brute, 
has  been  brought  to  be  a  docile,  gentle,  and  affectionate  ser- 
vant by  the  judicious  treatment  of  those  to  whose  charge  his 
management  at  this  particular  period  was  fortunately  in- 
trusted. 

Such  a  treatment  is  sufficient  for  the  first  year;  after  the 
second  winter,  the  operation  of  training  should  commence  in 


BREAKING.  Ill 

good  earnest  The  colt  should  be  bitted,  a  bit  being  selected 
which  will  not  hurt  his  mouth,  and  much  smaller  than  those  in 
common  use.  The  work  of  bitting  may  perhaps  occupy  three 
or  four  days  ;  the  colt  being  suffered  to  amuse  himself  with  the 
bit,  to  play,  and  to  champ  it  for  an  hour  or  so  during  a  few 
successive  days.  When  he  has  become  accustomed  to  the  bit, 
he  may  have  two  long  ropes  attached  to  it,  slightly  fastened 
to  his  sides  by  a  loose  girth  over  the  back,  and  his  feeder  may 
thus  drive  him,  as  it  were,  around  a  field,  pulling  upon  him 
as  he  proceeds.  This  will  serve  as  a  first  lesson  in  drawing. 
If  he  is  intended  for  a  saddle-horse,  a  filled  bag  may  be 
thrown  across  his  back  and  there  secured,  and,  after  he  has 
become  used  to  this,  a  crotch  may  be  fastened  upon  his  back, 
its  lower  extremities  grasping  his  sides,  and  thus  preparing 
him  for  the  legs  of  his  rider. 

Portions  of  the  harness  may  next  be  put  upon  him,  reserving 
the  blind  winkers  for  the  last ;  and  a  few  days  afterward  he 
may  go  into  the  team.  It  is  better  that  he  should  be  one  of 
three  horses,  having  one  before  him,  and  the  shaft-horse  behind 
him.  There  should  at  first  be  the  mere  empty  wagon  ;  and  the 
draught  is  best  begun  over  the  grass,  where  the  colt  will  not 
be  frightened  by  the  noise  of  the  wheels.  Nothing  should  be 
done  to  him,  except  giving  him  an  occasional  pat  or  a  kind 
word.  The  other  horses  will  keep  him  moving  and  in  his  place ; 
and  after  a  short  time,  sometimes  even  during  the  first  day,  he 
will  begin  to  pull  with  the  rest.  The  load  may  then  be  gradu- 
ally increased. 

If  the  horse  is  desired  for  purposes  of  riding  as  well  as  for 
exclusively  agricultural  uses,  his  first  lesson  may  be  given  when 
he  is  in  the  team ;  his  feeder,  if  possible,  being  the  first  one  put 


112  BREAKING. 

upon  him.  He  will  be  too  much  confiaed  by  the  harness  and 
by  the  other  horses,  to  make  much  resistance ;  and,  in  the 
greater  nnraber  of  instances,  will  quietly  and  at  once  submit 
Every  thing,  however,  should  proceed  gradually  and  by  suc- 
cessive steps,  and,  above  all,  no  whip  or  harsh  language  should, 
under  any  circumstances,  be  allowed  to  be  used.  Although  mild- 
ness is  absolutely  essential,  it  is  none  the  less  necessary  that 
the  colt  should  be  taught  implicit  obedience  to  the  will  of  his 
master.  To  accomplish  this,  neither  whip,  nor  spur,  nor  loud 
shouting,  nor  hallooing  is  necessary  ;  the  successful  horsebreaker 
is  required  to  possess  but  the  three  grand  requisites  of  firmness, 
steadiness,  and  patience. 

When  the  colt  begins  to  understand  his  business  somewhat, 
the  most  difficult  part  of  his  work,  backing,  may  be  taught  him  j 
first,  to  back  well  without  anything  behind  him,  then  with  a 
light  curb,  and  afterwards  with  some  more  heavy  load — the 
greatest  possible  care  being  always  taken  that  his  mouth  be  not 
seriously  hurt.  If  the  first  lesson  causes  much  soreness  of  the 
gums,  he  will  not  readily  submit  to  the  second.  If  he  has  been 
previously  rendered  tractable  by  kind  usage,  time  and  patience 
will  accomplish  every  thing  that  is  desired.  Some  persons  are 
in  the  habit  of  blinding  the  colt  when  teaching  him  to  back. 
This  can  only  be  necessary  with  a  restive  and  obstinate  one,  and 
even  then  should  be  used  only  as  a  last  resort. 

In  the  whole  process  of  breaking  it  should  constantly  be 
borne  in  mind,  that  scarcely  any  horses  are  naturally  vicious. 
Cruel  usage  alone  first  provokes  resistance.  If  that  resistance 
is  followed  by  greater  severity,  the  stubbornness  of  the  colt  in- 
creases in  proportion ;  open  warfare  ensues,  in  which  the  man 
seldom  gains  the  advantage,  and  the  horse  is  frequently  ren- 


BREAKING.  11 J 

(dered  utterly  unfit  for  service.  Correction  may,  indeed,  be 
necessary  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  implicit  obedience,  after 
the  training  has  proceeded  to  a  certain  extent;  but  the  early 
lessons  should  be  imparted  with  kindness  alone.  Young  colts 
are  sometimes  very  perverse ;  and  many  days  will  occasionally 
pass,  before  they  will  suffer  the  bridle  to  be  put  on,  or  the  saddle 
to  be  worn.  It  must  not,  however,  be  forgotten,  that  a  single  act 
of  harshness  will  indefinitely  increase  this  length  of  time ;  but 
that  patience  and  kindness  will  always  prevail.  On  some  occa- 
sion, when  the  colt  is  in  a  better  humor  than  usual,  the  bridle 
may  be  put  on,  or  the  saddle  be  worn ;  and,  if  this  compliance, 
on  his  part  is  accompanied  by  kindness  and  soothing  on  the 
part  of  the  breaker,  and  no  inconvenience  or  pain  be  suffered 
by  the  animal,  all  resistance  will  be  ended. 

The  same  principles  will  apply  to  thebreaking-in  of  the  horse 
for  the  road.  The  handling  and  souie  portion  of  instruction 
should  commence  from  the  time  of  weaning  ;  for  upon  this  the 
future  tractibility  of  the  horse  in  a  great  measure  depends.  At 
two  years  and  a  half,  or  three  years,  the  regular  process  of 
breaking-in  should  commence.  If  it  is  put  off  until  the  animal 
is  four  years  old,  his  strength  and  obstinacy  will  be  more  diffi- 
cult to  overcome.  The  plan  usually  adopted  by  the  breaker 
cannot,  perhaps,  be  much  improved  ;  except  that  there  should 
be  much  more  kindness  and  patience,  and  far  less  harshness  and 
cruelty,  than  those  persons  are  accustomed  to  exhibit,  and  a 
great  deal  more  attention  to  the  form  and  natural  action  of  the 
horse,  A  headstall  is  put  on  the  colt,  and  a  cavesson  (or  ap- 
paratus to  confine  and  pinch  the  nose,)  aflBxed  to  it  with  long 
reins.  He  is  first  accustomed  to  the  rein,  then  led  around  a 
ring  on  soft  ground,  and  at  length  mounted  and  taught  his 
8 


114  BREAKING. 

paces.  Next  to  preserving  the  temper  and  docility  of  the  horse, 
there  is  nothing  of  so  much  importance,  as  to  teach  him  every 
pace  and  every  part  of  his  duty  distinctly  and  thoroughly. 
Each  should  constitute  a  separate  and  sometimes  long-continued 
lesson,  taught  by  a  man  who  will  never  allow  his  passion  to 
overmaster  his  discretion. 

After  the  cavesson  has  been  attached  to  the  headstall,  and 
the  long  reins  put  on,  the  colt  should  be  quietly  led  about  by 
the  breaker — a  steady  boy  following  behind,  to  keep  him  moving 
by  occasional  threatening  with  the  whip,  but  never  by  an  actual 
blow.  When  the  animal  follows  readily  and  quietly,  he  may  be 
taken  to  the  ring  and  walked  around,  right  and  left,  in  a  very 
small  circle.  Care  should  be  taken  to  teach  him  this  pace 
thoroughly,  never  allowing  him  to  break  into  a  trot.  The  boy 
with  his  whip  may  here  again  be  necessary,  but  an  actual  blow 
should  never  be  inflicted. 

Becoming  tolerably  perfect  in  the  walk,  he  should  be  quick- 
ened to  a  trot,  and  kept  steadily  at  it;  the  whip  and  the  boy, 
if  needful,  urging  hira  on,  and  the  cavesson  restraining  him. 
These  lessons  should  be  short,  the  pace  being  kept  perfect  and 
distinct  in  each,  and  docility  and  improvement  rewarded  with 
frequent  caresses,  and  handfuls  of  corn.  The  length  of  the 
rein  may  now  be  gradually  increased,  and  the  pace  quickened,  and 
the  time  extended,  until  the  animal  becomes  tractable  in  these 
his  first  lessons;  toward  the  conclusion  of  which,  crupper  straps, 
or  something  similar,  may  be  attached  to  the  clothing.  These, 
playing  about  the  sides  and  flanks,  accustom  him  to  the  flapping 
of  the  coat  of  the  rider.  The  annoyance  which  they  occasion 
will  pass  over  in  a  day  or  two ;  for  when  the  animal  learns  by 
experience  that  no  harm  comes  from  them,  he  will  cease  to  re-? 
gard  them. 


BREAKING.  115 

Next  comes  the  bitting.  The  bits  should  be  large  and 
smooth,  and  the  reins  buckled  to  a  ring  on  ench  side  of  the 
pad.  There  are  many  curious  and  expensive  machines  for  this 
purpose,  but  the  simple  rein  will  be  quite  sufficient.  It  should 
at  first  be  slack,  and  then  very  gradually  tightened.  This  pre- 
pares for  the  more  perfect  manner  in  which  the  head  will  after- 
ward be  got  in  its  proper  position,  when  the  colt  is  accustomed 
to  the  saddle.  Occasionally  the  breaker  should  stand  in  front 
of  the  colt,  and  take  hold  of  each  side-rein  near  to  the  mouth, 
and  press  upon  it,  and  thus  begin  to  teach  him  to  stop  and  to 
back  on  the  pressure  of  the  rein,  rewarding  every  act  of  do- 
cility, and  not  being  too  eager  to  punish  occasional  careless- 
ness or  waywardness. 

The  colt  may  now  be  taken  into  the  road  or  street,  that  he 
may  become  gradually  accustomed  to  the  objects  among  which 
his  services  will  be  required.  Here,  from  fear  or  playfulness,  a 
considerable  degree  of  starting  and  shying  may  be  exhibited, 
of  which  as  little  notice  as  possible  should  be  taken.  The  same 
or  a  similar  object  should  be  soon  passed  again,  but  at  a  greater 
distance.  If  the  colt  still  shies,  let  the  distance  be  still  further 
increased,  until  he  takes  no  notice  of  the  object.  Then  he  may 
be  gradually  brought  nearer  to  it ;  and  this  may  usually  be  ac- 
complished without  the  slightest  difficulty  ;  whereas,  had  there 
been  an  attempt  to  force  him  close  to  it' in  the  first  instance, 
the  remembrance  of  the  contest  would  have  been  associate^ 
with  every  appearance  of  the  object,  and  the  habit  of  shying 
would  have  been  established. 

Hitherto,  with  a  cool  and  patient  breaker,  the  whip  may  have 
been  shown,  but  will  scarcely  have  been  used  ;  the  colt  should 
now,  however,  be  accustomed  to  this  necessary  instrument  of« 


116  BREAKING. 

authority.  Let  the  breaker  walk  by  the  side  of  the  animal, 
throw  his  right  arm  over  his  back,  holding  the  reins  in  his  left, 
occasionally  quickening  his  pace,  and  at  the  moment  of  doing 
this  tapping  the  horse  with  the  whip  in  his  right  hand,  and  at 
first  very  gently.  The  tap  of  the  whip  and  the  quickening  of 
the  pace  will  soon  become  associated  in  the  animal's  mind.  If 
necessary,  these  reminders  may  gradually  fall  a  little  heavier, 
and  the  feeling  of  pain  be  the  monitor  of  the  necessity  of  in- 
creased exertion.  The  lessons  of  reining  in  and  stopping,  and 
backing  on  the  pressure  of  the  bit,  may  continue  to  be  practised 
at  the  same  time. 

He  may  next  be  taught  to  bear  the  saddle.  Some  little 
caution  will  be  necessary  in  first  putting  it  on.  The  breaker 
should  stand  at  the  head  of  the  colt,  patting  him  and  engaging 
his  attention,  while  one  assistant,  on  the  off-side,  gently  places 
the  saddle  on  the  back  of  the  animal ;  another  on  the  nearest 
side  slowly  tightening  the  girths.  If  he  submits  quietly  to  this, 
as  he  generally  will  when  the  previous  process  of  breaking-in 
has  been  properly  conducted,  the  operation  of  mounting  may 
be  attempted  on  the  following,  or  on  the  third  day.  The 
breaker  will  need  two  assistants  in  order  to  accom])lish  this. 
He  will  remain  at  the  head  of  the  colt,  patting  and  making 
much  of  him.  The  rider  will  put  his  foot  into  the  stirrup,  and 
bear  a  little  weight  upon  it,  while  the  man  on  the  opposite  side 
presses  equally  on  the  other  stirrup-lcntlier ;  and  according  to 
the  docility  of  the  animal,  he  will  gradually  increase  the  weight, 
until  he  balances  himself  on  the  stirrup.  If  the  colt  is  uneasy 
or  fretful,  he  should  be  spoken  kindly  to  and  patted,  or  a 
mouthful  of  grain  be  given  to  him;  but  if  he  offers  serious  re- 
sistance, the  lessons  must  terminate  for  that  day.  He  may 
possibly  be  in  a  better  humor  on  the  morrow. 


BREAKING. 


117 


When  the  rider  has  balanced  himself  for  a  minute  or  two,  he 
may  gently  throw  his  leg  over,  and  quickly  seat  himself  in  the 
saddle.  The  breaker  should  then  lead  the  animal  around  the 
ring,  the  rider  meanwhile  sitting  perfectly  still.  After  a  few 
minutes  he  should  take  the  reins,  and  handle  them  as  gently  as 
possible,  guiding  the  horse  by  the  pressure  of  them ;  patting 
him  frequently,  and  especially  when  he  thinks  of  dismounting ; 
and,  after  having  dismounted,  ofiering  him  a  little  grain,  or 
green  feed.  The  use  of  the  rein  in  checking  him,  and  of  the 
pressure  of  the  leg  and  the  touch  of  the  heel  in  quickening  his 
pace,  will  soon  be  taught,  and  his  education  will  be  nearly  com- 
pleted. 

The  horse  having  thus  far  submitted  himself  to  the  breaker, 
these  pattings  and  awards  must  be  gradually  diminished,  and 
implicit  obedience  mildly  but  firmly  enforced.  Severity  will 
not  often  be  necessary,  in  the  great  majority  of  cases  it  being 


Sscl^^^"^'^ 


altogether 
uncalled  for; 
but  should  the 
animal,  in  a 
moment  of 
waywardness, 
^H>--  dispute  the 
"tS  command    of 


that  we  have  the  power,  by  other  means  than  those  of  kindness, 
to  bend  him  to  our  will.  The  education  of  the  horse,  in  short, 
should  be  that  of  the  child.     Pleasure  is,  as  much  as  possible, 


118  CASTRATION. 

associated  with  the  early  lessons ;  but  firmness,  or,  if  need  be, 
coercion,  must  establish  the  habit  of  obedience.  Tyranny  and 
cruelty  will,  more  speedily  even  in  the  horse  than  in  the  child, 
provoke  the  wish  to  disobey  ;  and,  on  every  practicable  occasion, 
the  resistance  to  command.  The  restive  and  vicious  horse  is, 
in  ninety-nine  cases  out  of  a  hundred,  made  so  by  ill-usage,  and 
not  by  nature.  None  but  those  who  will  take  the  trouble  to 
make  the  experiment,  are  aware  how  absolute  a  command  the 
due  admixture  of  firmness  and  kindness  will  soon  give  us  over 
any  horse. 


CASTRATION". 

The  period  at  which  this  operation  may  be  best  performed 
depends,  as  has  been  previously  remarked,  much  on  the  breed 
and  form  of  the  colt,  and  the  purpose  for  which  he  is  destined. 
For  the  common  agricultural  horse,  the  age  of  four  or  five 
months  will  be  the  most  proper  time,  or,  at  least  before  he  is 
weaned.  Few  horses  are  lost  when  cut  at  that  age ;  though 
care  should  be  taken  that  the  weather  is  not  too  bad,  nor  the 
flies  too  numerous. 

If  the  horse  is  designed  either  for  the  carriage  or  for  heavy 
draught,  he  should  not  be  castrated  until  he  is  at  least  a  year 
old ;  and,  even  then,  the  colt  should  be  carefully  examined.  If 
he  is  thin  and  spare  about  the  neck  and  shoulders,  and  low  in 
the  withers,  he  will  materially  improve  by  remaining  uncut 
another  six  months  ;  but  if  his  fore  quarters  are  fairly  developed 
at  twelve  months,  the  operation  should  not  be  delayed,  lest  he 
grow  gross  and  heavy  before,  and,  perhaps,  has  begun  too  de- 
cidedly to  have  a  will  of  his  own.  No  specific  age,  therefore, 
fan  be  fixed  ;  but  the  operation  should  be  performed  rather  late 


CASTRATION.  llf 

in  the  spring,  or  early  in  the  autumn,  when  the  air  Is  temperate 
and  particularly  when  the  weather  is  dry. 

No  preparation  is  necessary  for  the  sucking  colt,  but  it 
may  be  prudent  to  physic  one  of  more  advanced  age.  In 
the  majority  of  cases,  no  after  treatment  will  be  necessary,  ex- 
cept that  the  animal  should  be  sheltered  from  intense  heat,  and 
more  particularly  from  the  wet.  In  temperate  weather  he 
will  do  much  better  running  in  the  field  than  nursed  in  a  close 
and  hot  stable.  The  moderate  exercise  which  he  will  necessa- 
rily take  in  grazing,  will  be  preferable  to  entire  inaction. 

The  old  method  of  opening  the  scrotum,  or  testicle  bag,  on 
each  side,  and  cutting  off  the  testicles,  preventing  bleeding  by 
a  temporary  compression  of  the  vessel,  while  they  are  seared 
with  a  hot  iron,  must  not,  perhaps,  be  abandoned ;  but  there  is 
no  necessity  for  that  extra  pain,  when  the  spermatic  cord  (the 
blood-vessels  and  the  nerve,)  is  compressed  between  two  pieces 
of  wood  as  tightly  as  in  a  vice,  and  there  left  until  the  following 
day,  when  it  may  be  removed  with  a  knife. 

The  practice  of  some  farmers  of  cording,  or  twitching  their 
colts  at  an  early  period  exposes  the  animal  to  much  unneces- 
sary pain,  and  is  attended  with  no  slight  danger. 

Another  method  of  castration  is  by  torsion.  An  incision  is 
made  into  the  scrotum,  and  the  vas  deferens  is  exposed  and 
divided.  The  artery  is  then  seized  by  a  pair  of  forceps  con- 
trived for  the  purpose,  and  twisted  six  or  seven  times  round. 
It  retracts  without  untwisting  the  coils,  and  bleeding  ceases. 
The  testicle  is  removed,  and  there  is  no  sloughing  or  danger. 
The  most  painful  part  of  the  operation — the  operation  of  the 
firing-iron,  or  the  claws — is  avoided,  and  the  wound  readily 
heals.     It  is  to  be  remarked,  in  this  connection,  that  the  use 


120  DOCKING.  , 

of  chloroform  has  been  found  very  beneficial  in  performing  the 
operation  in  the  old  way,  both  in  removing  all  pain,  and  also 
preventing  that  severe  struggling  which  often  takes  place,  and 
which  has  sometimes  been  followed  with  very  dangerous  con- 
sequences. With  the  assistance  of  this  agent,  the  operation 
has  been  safely  performed  in  seven  minutes,  without  any  pain 
to  the  animal. 


DOCKING. 

This  is  an  operation,  whose  only  sanction  is  to  be  found  in 
the  requirements  of  a  senseless  fashion.  "  The  convenience  of 
the  rider,"  which  is  sometimes  urged  in  its  favor,  is  the  veriest 
nonsense  afloat.  In  truth,  the  operation  is  one  of  the  most 
useless  which  the  brain  of  man,  fertile  in  romance  and  expedi- 
ents as  it  is,  ever  devised  ;  since,  instead  of  adding  to  the  beauty 
of  the  animal,  as  some  assert,  it  but  adds  deformity.  Not  many 
years  back,  this  attempted  improvement  upon  nature  became  a 
perfect  mania.  In  England,  however,  this  cruel  practice  has 
been  almost  entirely  discarded ;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the 
operation  in  the  United  States  also  will  speedily  be  frowned 
down. 

The  operation,  as  now  performed  by  veterinary  surgeons,  was 
introduced  some  years  ago  by  the  American  Veterinary  Asso- 
ciation of  Philadelphia.  It  consists  in  passing  a  narrow-bladed 
knife  (a  pricking  knife  will  answer,)  between  the  coccygeal  bones 
at  the  desired  point,  from  above  downwards,  cutting  outwards 
and  backwards  on  each  side  so  as  to  form  two  flaps,  which  are 
carefully  brought  together  over  the  end  of  the  tail  and  secured 
by  the  interrupted  suture  ;  thus  giving  protection  to  the  stump 
of  the  tail,  and  making  a  much  neater  finish  than  by  any  other 


DOCKING.  121 

method  which  could  be  tidopted.  No  styptic  whatever  is  re- 
quired, aud  there  need  be  no  fear  of  hemorriiage,  as  the  union 
generally  takes  place  by  what  surgeons  call  first  intention.  If, 
however,  the  flaps  do  not  fit  nicely,  healing  will  not  take  place 
without  suppuration.  This  fiact  should  be  borne  in  mind  in 
performing  the  operation,  as  much  time  in  healing  may  thus  be 
saved. 

By  the  old  method  that  joint  is  searched  for,  which  is  nearest 
to  the  desired  length  of  tail.  The  hair  is  then  turned  up,  and 
tied  round  with  tape  for  an  inch  or  two  above  this  joint,  and 
that  lying  immediately  upon  the  joint  is  cut  off.  The  horse  is 
fettered  with  the  side-line,  and  then  the  veterinary  surgeon  with 
his  docking-machine,  or  the  farmer  with  his  carving-knife  anc] 
mallet,  cuts  through  the  tail  at  one  stroke. 

Some  farmers  dock  their  colts  a  few  days  after  they  are 
dropped.  This  is  a  commendable  custom  on  the  score  of  hu- 
manity. No  colt  was  ever  lost  by  it ;  the  growth  of  the  hair, 
and  the  beauty  of  the  tail  not  being  at  all  impaired. 


NICKIITG. 

This  barbarous  operation  was  once  sanctioned  by  fashion, 
and  the  breeder  and  the  dealer  are  even  now  sometimes  tempted 
to  inflict  the  torture  of  it  in  order  to  obtain  a  ready  sale  for 
their  colts.  It  is  not,  practiced  to  the  extent  that  it  used  to 
be,  nor  is  it  attended  by  so  many  circumstances  of  cruelty. 

The  operation  is  thus  performed.  The  side-line  is  put  on 
the  horse,  or  some  persons  deem  it  more  prudent  to  cast  him/ 
and  that  precaution  may  be  recommended.  The  hair  at  the 
end  of  the  tail  is  securely  tied  together,  for  the  purpose  of 
afterward  attaching  a  weight  to  it.     The  operator  then  grasps 


122  NTcKiNa. 

the  tail  in  his  hand,  and,  lifting  it  li^,  feels  for  the  centre  of 
one  of  the  bones — the  prominences  at  the  extremities  guiding 
him — from  two  to  four  inches  from  the  root  of  the  tail,  accord- 
ing to  the  size  of  the  horse.  He  then  with  a  sharp  knife  di- 
vides the  muscles  deeply  from  the  edge  of  the  tail  on  one  side 
to  the  centre,  and,  continuing  the  incision  across  the  bone  of 
the  tail,  he  makes  it  as  deep  on  the  other  side.  One  continued 
incision,  steadily  yet  rapidly  made,  will  accomplish  all  this. 
If  it  is  a  blood-horse  that  is  operated  on,  this  will  be  sufficient. 
For  a  hunter,  two  incisions  are  usually  made,  the  second  being 
about  two  inches  below  the  first,  and  likewise  as  nearly  as 
possible  in  the  centre  of  one  of  the  bones. 

On  a  hackney,  a  third  incision  is  made ;  for  fashion  has 
decided  that  his  tail  shall  be  still  more  elevated  and  curved. 
Two  incisions  only  are  made  in  the  tail  of  a  mare,  and  the 
second  not  very  deep. 

When  the  second  incision  is  made,  some  fibres  of  the  mus- 
cles between  the  first  and  second  will  project  into  the  wound, 
and  must  be  removed  by  a  pair  of  curved  scissors.  The  same 
must  be  done  with  the  projecting  portions  from  between  the 
second  and  third  incisions.  The  wound  should  then  be  care- 
fully examined,  in  order  to  ascertain  that  the  muscles  have 
been  equally  divided  on  each  side,  otherwise  the  tail  will  be 
carried  awry.  This  being  done,  pieces  of  tow  must  be  intro- 
duced deeply  into  each  incision,  and  confined,  but  not  too 
tightly,  by  a  bar\dage.  'A  very  profuse  bleeding  only  will 
justify  any  tightness  of  bandage,  and  the  ill  consequences  that 
have  resulted  from  nicking  are  mainly  attributable  to  the  un- 
necessary force  that  is  used  in  confining  these  pledgets  of 
tow.     Even  if  the  bleeding,  immediately  after  the  operation, 


NICKING. 


123 


should  have  been  very  great,  the  roller  must  be  loosened  in  two 
or  three  hours,  otherwise  swelling  and  inflammation,  and  even 
death,  may  possibly  ensue.  Twenty-four  hours  after  the  ope- 
ration, the  bandage  must  be  quite  removed  ;  and  then  all  that 
is  necessary,  so  far  as  the  healing  of  the  incisions  is  concerned, 
is  to  keep  them  clean. 

The  wounds  must  remain  open  ;  and  this  can  only  be  accom- 
plished  by  forci- 

bly  keeping  the  ^^^^^^^^^^P| 
tail  curved  back 
during  two  or 
three  weeks.  For 
this  purpose,  a 
cord,  one  or  two 
feet  in  length,  is 
aflSxed  to  the  end 
of  the  hair,  which 

terminates  in  an-  the  usual  method. 

other  divided  cord,  each  division  going  over  a  pulley  on  each 
side  of  the  back  of  the  stall.  A  weight  is  hung  at  each  ex- 
tremity, sufiBcient  to  keep  the  incisions  properly  open,  and 
regulated  by  the  degree  in  which  this  is  wished  to  be  accom* 
plished.  The  animal  will  thus  be  retained  in  an  uneasy  posi- 
tion, although,  after  tlie  first  two  or  three  days,  probably  not 
of  acute  pain.  It  is  barbarous  to  increase  this  uneasiness  or 
pain  by  affixing  too  great  a  weight  to  the  coftls ;  for  it  shoul(^ 
be  remembered  that  the  proper  elevated  curve  is  given  to  the 
tail,  not  by  the  weight's  keeping  it  in  a  certain  position  for  a 
considerable  time,  but  by  the  depth  of  the  first  incisions,  and 
the  degree  in  which  the  wounds  are  kept  open. 


1 24  NICKING. 

The  dock  should  not,  for  the  first  three  or  four  days,  bo 
brought  higher  than  the  back.  Dangerous  irritation  and  in- 
flammation would  probably  otbervvise  be  produced.  It  may, 
after  that,  be  gradually  raised  to  an  elevation  of  forty-five 
degrees.  The  horse  should  be  taken  out  of  the  pulleys,  and 
gently  exercised  once  or  twice  every  day;  but  the  pulleys 
cannot  finally  be  dispensed  with  until  a  fortnight  after  the 
wounds  have  healed,  because  the  process  of  contraction,  or  the 
approach  of  the  divided  parts,  goes  on  for  some  time  afier  the 
skin  is  perfect  over  the  incisions,  and  the  tail  would  thus  sink 
below  the  desired  elevation.  The  French  method  is  simpler 
and  less  barbarous  than  ours,  allowin< 
the  horse  to  lie  down  or  move  about  at  ^^^^&M 
his  pleasure. 
Where  this  ope- 
ration is  to  be 
performed,  it 
might  be  adopted 
with  advantage 
as  shown  in  the 
engraving      an- 

If  the  tail  has  the  french  method. 

not  been  unnecessarily  extended  by  enormous  weights,  no  bad 
consequences  will  usually  follow ;  but  if  considerable  inflamma- 
tion should  ensue,  the  tail  must  be  taken  from  the  pulley,  and 
carefully  fomented  with  simple  warm  water,  and  a  dose  of 
physic  given  Locked-jaw  has,  in  some  rare  instances,  fol- 
lowed, under  which  tne  horse  generally  perishes.  The  best 
means  of  cure  in  the  early  state  of  this  disease,  is  to  amputate 


THE    STABLE.  125 

the  tail  at  the  joint  above  tlie  highest  incision.  In  order  to 
prevent  the  hair  from  coming  off,  it  should  be  unplaited  and 
combed  out  every  fourth  or  fifth  day. 


THE  STABLE. 

The  most  desirable  thing  in  a  stable  is  ventilation.  A  horse 
requires  air  equally  with  his  master ;  and  as  the  latter  requires 
a  chimney  to  his  sleeping  apartment,  so  does  the  former.  This 
may  be  a  mere  outlet  through  the  ceiling,  or  it  may  be  formed 
as  a  dome  or  cupola.  It  should  not,  of  course,  be  open  at  the 
top,  or  rain  will  get  in,  but  roofed  over,  and  have  an  opening 
at  the  sides.  Besides  this,  there  should  be  openings  in  the 
wall,  near  the  ground,  but  not  in  the  stalls.  This  will  produce 
a  tliorough  air,  and  may  be  so  placed  as  not  to  expose  the 
horses  to  the  draught. 

The  stable  should  not  be  less  than  twelve  feet  high,  from  floor 
to  ceiling,  and  the  floor  should  be  well  paved,  slope  slightly  back- 
ward, and  along  the  back  of  the  stalls  should  run  a  gutter,  about 
a  foot  wide  and  an  inch  or  two  deep.  No  stable  should  be  less 
than  eighteen  feet  deep,  and  each  stall  should  be  at  least  six 
feet  clear;  but  if  eight  feet  can  be  allowed,  so  much  the  better. 
Although  some  horses  will  agree  when  kept  together  in  one 
stall,  it  is  far  preferable  to  allow  each  a  stall  to  himself.  The 
manger  should  be  about  sixteen  inches  deep,  the  same  from  front 
to  back,  more  narrow  at  bottom  than  at  top,  and  two  feet  in 
length.  The  rack  is  best  when  closed  in  front,  the  back  part 
being  an  inclined  plane  of  wood  sloping  gradually  toward  the 
front,  and  terminating  about  two  feet  down.  This  kind  of 
rack  effects  a  considerable  saving  in  hay ;  for  the  reader 
scarcely  needs  to  be  reminded  that  in  the  common  rack  much, 


126 


THE   STABLE. 


of  the  hay  given  is  dragged  down  and  trampled  in  the  litter. 
It  also  prevents  the  hay-seed  from  falling  into  the  horse's  eyes ; 

for  the  rack  is  on  a 
p  level  with  the  man- 
ger, and  about  three 
feetfrom  the  ground. 
Another  advantage 
gained  by  this  rack 
is  the  facility  with 
which    it  can   be 
filled,  thus   obvi- 
ating all  necessity 
for  a  loft  over  the 
stable,  and,   con- 
sequently, admit- 
ting of  a  greater 
height  of  ceiling 
above  the  horses,  as  well  as  of  a  superior  ventilation. 

The  windows  and  the  doors  should  be  at  opposite  ends,  as 
ventilation  is  thereby  promoted  ;  the  doors  should  be  divided 
transversely,  at  the  height  of  about  four  feet  from  the  ground. 
The  upper  portion  may  thus  be  occasionally  opened.  White- 
wash is  a  bad  dressing  for  the  interior  of  the  stable,  as  it  causes 
too  great  a  glare  of  light ;  paint  of  a  leaden  color  is  best,  and 
it  can  be  washed  from  time  to  time  with  soap  and  water. 
There  should  be  a  bin,  properly  divided  into  partitions  for 
oats,  beans,  and  the  like  ;  and  this  is  better  at  the  back  of  the 
stable. 

A  few  buckets  of  water  dashed  over  the  floor  of  the  stable 
while  the  horses  are  at  work,  will  keep  all  sweet.     The  litter 


CUSTOMARY  FORM  OF  STALLS, 


AIR.  127 

should  also  be  turned  out  to  dry,  and  a  little  fresh  straw  spread 
for  the  horses  to  stale  on.  A  shed  placed  beside  the  stable  is 
a  great  advantage,  on  two  accounts — it  admits  of  the  litter 
being  dried,  and  the  horse  dressed  there  in  wet  and  stormy 
weather. 

A  little  powdered  gypsum,  strown  upon  the  stable  floor,  will 
also  act  by  absorbing  the  ammoniacal  gas,  and  thus  reraoying 
its  foul  smell — a  frequent  predisposing  cause  of  ophthalmia. 
If  the  ammonia,  however,  accumulates  in  any  considerable 
quantity,  the  speediest  and  most  efi&cacious  remedy  as  a  disin- 
fectant is  muriatic  acid. 


AIR. 

The  importance  of  thorough  ventilation  has  been  adverted  to 
under  the  preceding  head,  but  a  few  words  additional  seem 
necessary. 

A  hot  stable  has  in  the  minds  of  many  been  long  connected 
with  a  glossy  coat  for  the  horse.  The  latter,  it  is  thought, 
cannot  be  obtained  without  the  former.  To  this  it  may  be  re- 
plied that  in  winter  a  thin,  glossy  coat  is  not  desirable.  Mature 
gives  to  every  animal  a  warmer  clothing  when  the  cold  weather 
approaches.  The  horse — the  agricultural  horse,  especially— 
acquires  a  thicker  and  a  lengthened  coat,  in  order  to  defend 
him  from  the  surrounding  cold.  Man  puts  on  additional  and 
a  warmer  covering,  and  his  comfort  is  increased  and  his  health 
preserved  by  it.  He  who  knows  anything  of  the  farmer's  horse, 
or  cares  about  his  enjoyment,  will  not  object  to  a  coat  a  little 
longer,  and  a  little  roughened  when  the  wintry  wind  blows 
bleak.     The  coat,  however,  does  not  need  to  be  so  long  as  to 


128  AIR. 

be  unsightly;  and  warm  clothing,  even  in  a  cool  stable,  will, 
with  plenty  of  careful  and  faithful  grooming,  keep  the  hoir  suf- 
ficiently smooth  and  glossy  to  satisfy  the  most  fastidious.  The 
over-heated  air  of  a  close  stable  dispenses  with  the  necessity  of 
this  grooming,  and  therefore  the  idle  attendant  unscrupulously 
sacrifices  the  health  and  safety  of  the  horse. 

If  the  stable  is  close,  the  air  will  not  only  be  hot,  but  foul. 
The  breathing  of  every  animal  contaminates  it ;  and  when,  in  the 
course  of  the  night,  with  every  aperture  stopped,  it  passes  again 
and  again  through  the  lungs,  the  blood  cannot  undergo  its  proper 
and  healthy  change  ;  digestion  will  not  be  so  perfectly  performed, 
and  all  the  functions  of  life  are  injured.  Let  the  owner  of  a 
valuable  horse  think  of  his  passing  twenty  or  twenty-two  out  of 
the  twenty-four  hours  in  this  debilitating  atmosphere.  Nature 
does  wonders  in  enabling  every  animal  to  accommodate  itself 
to  the  situation  in  which  it  is  placed,  and  the  horse  that  lives 
in  the  stable-oven  suffers  less  from  it  than  would  scarcely  be 
deemed  possible ;  but  he  does  not,  and  cannot,  possess  the 
power  and  hardihood  which  he  would  acquire  under  other  cir- 
cumstances. 

The  air  of  the  improperly  closed  and  heated  stable  is  still 
further  contaminated  by  the  urine  and  dung,  which  rapidly  fer- 
ment there,  and  give  out  stimulating  and  unwholesome  odors. 
When  one  first  enters  an  ill-managed  stable,  and  especially  early 
in  the  morning,  he  is  annoyed,  not  only  by  the  heat  of  the  con- 
fined air,  but  by  a  pungent  smell,  resembling  hartshorn ;  what  sur- 
prise,  then,  need  be  excited  at  the  inflammation  of  the  eyes,  and 
the  chronic  cougli,  and  the  disease  of  the  lungs,  by  which  the 
animal,  which  has  been  all  night  shut  up  in  this  vitiated  atmos- 
phere, is  often  attacked  ;  or  if  glanders  and  farcy  should  occa- 


AIR.  129 

fiionally  break  out  in  such  stables  ?  Chemical  experiments  hare 
demonstrated  that  the  urine  of  the  horse  contains  in  it  an  ex- 
ceedingly large  quantity  of  hartshorn  ;  aiid  not  only  so,  but 
that,  influenced  by  the  heat  of  a  crowded  stable,  and  possibly 
by  other  decompositions  which  are  going  on  at  the  same  time, 
this  ammoniacal  vapor  begins  to  be  rapidly  given  out  almost 
immediately  after  the  urine  is  voided. 

When  disease  begins  to  appear  among  the  inhabitants  of  these 
ill-ventilated  places,  it  is  not  wonderful  that  it  should  rapidly 
spread  among  them,  and  that  the  plague-spot  should  be,  as  it 
were,  placed  on  the  door  of  such  a  stable.  When  distemper 
appears  in  spring  or  autumn,  it  is  in  very  many  cases  to  be 
traced  to  such  a  pest-house.  It  is  peculiarly  fatal  there.  The 
horses  belonging  to  a  small  estabhshment,  and  rationally 
treated,  have  it  comparatively  seldon],  or.  when  they  do,  but 
lightly ;  but  among  the  inmates  of  a  crowded  stable  it  is  sure 
to  display  itself,  and  there  it  is  most  deadly.  The  experience 
of  every  veterinary  surgeon,  and  of  every  large  proprietor  of 
horses,  will  corroborate  this  statement. 

Every  stable,  then,  should  possess  within  itself  a  certain  de- 
gree of  ventilation.  The  cost  of  this  would  be  trifling,  and  its 
saving  in  the  preservation  of  valuable  animals  may  be  immense. 
The  apertures  need  not  be  large,  and  the  whole,  as  before  said, 
may  be  so  contrived  that  no  direct  current  of  air  shall  fall  on 
the  horse, 

A  gentleman's  stable  should  never  be  without  a  thermometer. 
The  temperature  should  seldom  exceed  seventy  degrees  in  the 
Bummer,  or  sink  below  forty  or  fifty  degrees  in  the  winter. 
9 


130  LITTER. 


IiITTEE. 


Having  spoken  of  the  vapor  of  hartshorn,  which  is  so  rapidly 
'and  plentifully  given  out  from  the  urine  of  a  horse  in  a  heated 
stable,  the  subject  of  litter  comes  naturally  next  in  order.  The 
first  caution  is,  frequently  to  remove  it.  The  early  extrication 
of  gas  shows  the  rapid  putrefaction  of  the  urine ;  the  conse- 
quence of  which  will  be  the  rapid  putrefaction  of  the  litter  which 
is  moistened  by  it.  Every  thing  hastening  to  decomposition 
should  be  carefully  removed  where  life  and  health  are  to  be  pre- 
served. The  litter  which  has  been  much  wet  or  at  all  softened 
by  the  urine,  and  is  beginning  to  decay,  should  be  swept  away 
every  morning ;  the  greater  part  of  the  remainder  may  then  be 
piled  under  the  manger ;  a  little  being  left  to  prevent  the  pain- 
ful and  injurious  pressure  of  the  feet  on  the  hard  pavement 
during  the  day.  The  soiled  and  soaked  portion  of  that  which 
was  left  should  be  removed  at  night.  In  the  better  kind  of 
stables,  however,  the  stalls  should  be  completely  emptied  every 
morning. 

No  heap  of  fermenting  dung  should  be  suffered  to  remain 
during  the  day  in  the  corner  or  in  any  part  of  the  stable. 
With  regard  to  this,  the  directions  for  removal  should  be  per- 
emptory. 

The  stable  should  be  so  contrived  that  the  urine  may  quickly 
run  off,  and  the  offensive  and  injurious  vapor  from  the  decom- 
posing fluid,  and  the  litter  will  thus  be  materially  lessened  ;  but 
if  this  is  effected  by  means  of  gutters  and  a  descending  floor, 
the  descent  must  be  barely  sufficient  to  cause  the  fluid  to  escape, 
as,  if  the  toes  are  kept  higher  than  the  heels,  it  will  lead  to 
lameness,  and  is  also  a  frequent  cause  of  contraction  of  the  foot 


LIGHT.  131 

Stalls  of  this  kind  certainly  do  best  for  mares  ;  but  for  horses 
those  are  preferable,  which  have  a  grating  in  the  centre,  and  a 
slight  inclination  in  the  floor  on  every  side  towards  the  middle. 
A  short  branch  may  communicate  with  a  larger  drain,  by  means 
of  which  the  urine  may  be  carried  off  to  a  reservoir  outside  the 
stable.  Traps  are  now  contrived,  and  may  be  procured  at  little 
expense,  by  means  of  which  neither  any  offensive  smell  nor  cur- 
rent of  air  can  pass  through  the  grating. 

In  stables  with  paved  floors  particularly,  humanity  and 
interest,  as  well  as  the  appearance  of  the  stable,  should  induce 
the  proprietor  of  the  horse  to  place  a  moderate  quantity  of  litter 
under  him  during  the  day. 


LIGHT. 

This  neglected  branch  of  stable-management  is  of  far  more 
consequence  than  is  generally  imagined.  The  farmer's  stable 
is  frequently  destitute  of  any  glazed  window,  and  has  only  a 
shutter,  w^hich  is  raised  in  warm  weather,  and  closed  when  the 
weather  becomes  cold.  When  the  horse  is  in  the  stable  only 
during  a  few  hours  in  the  day,  this  is  not  of  so  much  conse- 
quence, nor  of  so  much,  probably,  with  regard  to  horses  of  slo\r 
work ;  but  to  carriage-horses  and  roadsters,  so  far,  at  least,  as 
the  eyes  are  concerned,  a  dark  stable  is  little  less  injurious  than 
a  foul  and  heated  one.  In  order  to  illustrate  this,  reference  may 
be  made  to  the  unpleasant  feeling,  and  the  utter  impossibility 
of  seeing  distinctly,  when  a  man  suddenly  emerges  from  a  dark 
place  into  the  full  glare  of  day.  The  sensation  of  mingled  pain 
and  giddiness  is  not  speedily  forgotten  ;  and  some  minutes  elapse 
before  the  eye  can  accustom  itself  to  the  increased  light.  If 
this  were  to  happen  every  day,  or  several  times  in  a  day,  the 


132  LIGHT. 

sight  would  be  irreparably  injured,  or  possibly  blindness  would 
be  the  final  result.  We  need  not  wonder,  then,  that  the  horse, 
taken  from  a  dark  stable  into  a  blaze  of  light,  feeling,  probably, 
as  we  should  do  under  similar  circumstances,  and  unable  for 
any  time  to  see  anything  around  him  distinctly,  should  become 
a  starter ;  or  that  the  frequently  repeated  violent  effect  of  sudden 
light  should  induce  inflammation  of  the  eye  so  intense  as  to 
terminate  in  blindness.  There  is,  indeed,  no  doubt  that  horses 
kept  in  dark  stables  are  frequently  notorious  starters,  and  that 
abominable  habit  has  been  properly  traced  to  this  cause. 

If  plenty  of  light  be  admitted,  the  walls  of  the  stable,  and 
especially  that  portion  of  them  which  is  before  the  horse's  head, 
must  not  be  of  too  glaring  a  color.  The  color  of  the  stable 
should  depend  on  the  quantity  of  light.  Where  much  can  be 
admitted,  the  walls  should  be  of  a  gray  hue.  Where  darkness 
would  otherwise  prevail,  frequent  painting  may  in  some  degree 
dissipate  the  gloom. 

Eor  another  reason,  it  will  be  evident  that  the  stable  should 
not  possess  too  glaring  a  light ;  it  is  the  resting-place  of  the 
horse.  The  work  of  the  farmer's  horse,  indeed,  is  principally 
confined  to  the  day.  The  hours  of  exertion  having  passed,  the 
animal  returns  to  his  stable  to  feed  and  to  repose,  and  the  latter 
is  as  necessary  as  the  former,  in  order  to  prepare  him  for  re- 
newed work.  Something  like  the  dimness  of  twilight  is  requi- 
site to  induce  the  animal  to  compose  himself  to  sleep.  This 
half-light  is  more  particularly  adapted  to  horses  of  heavy  work. 
In  the  quietness  of  a  dimly-lighted  stable,  they  obtain  repose, 
and  accumulate  flesh  and  fat. 


GROOMING* 


183 


GROOMiisra. 

To  the  agriculturist  it  is  not  necessary  to  say  much  under 
this  head,  as  custom,  apparently  without  any  ill  effect,  has 
allotted  so  little  of  the  comb  and  brusli  for  the  farmer's  horse. 
The  auimal  that  is  worked  all  day,  and  turned  out  at  night, 


GROOMING. 


requires  little  more  to  be 
^^^=^^  done  to  him  than  to  have  the  dirt, 

brushed  off  his  limbs.  Kegular  grooming,  by  ren- 
dering his  slvia  more  sensitive  to  the  alteration  of 
temperature,  and  the  inclemency  of  weather,  would  ba 
prejudicial.  The  horse  that  is  altogether  turned 
out,  needs  no  grooming.     The  dandruff,  or  scurf,  which  accu- 


134  "  GROOMING. 

mulates  at  the  roots  of  the  hair,  is  a  provision  of  nature  to 
defend  him  from  the  wind  and  the  cold. 

It  is  to  the  stabled  horse,  highly  fed,  and  little  or  irregularly 
worked,  that  grooming  is  of  so  much  consequence.  Good 
rubbing  with  the  brush,  or  the  curry-comb,  opens  the  pores  of 
the  skin,  causes  the  blood  to  circulate  to  the  extremities  of  the 
body,  produces  free  and  healthy  perspiration,  and  stands  in 
the  stead  of  exercise.  No  horse  will  carry  a  fine  coat  without 
either  unnatural  heat,  or  dressing.  They  both  efiect  the  same 
purpose  ;  they  both  increase  the  insensible  perspiration  ;  but 
the  first  does  it  at  the  expense  of  health  and  strength,  while 
the  second,  at  the  same  time  that  it  produces  a  glow  on  the 
skin,  and  a  determination  of  blood  to  it,  rouses  all  the  energies 
of  the  frame.  It  would  be  well  if  the  proprietor  of  the  horse 
were  to  insist — and  to  see  that  his  orders  are  implicitly  obeyed 
. — that  the  fine  coat,  in  which  he  and  his  groom  so  much  de- 
light, is  produced  by  honest  rubbing,  and  not  by  a  heated 
stable  and  thick  clothing,  and,  most  of  all,  not  by  stimulating 
or  injurious  spices.  The  horse  should  be  reguhiHy  dressed 
every  day,  in  addition  to  the  grooming  that  is  necessary  after 
work. 

When  the  weather  will  permit  the  horse  to  be  taken  out,  he 
should  never  be  groomed  in  the  stable,  unless  he  is  an  animal 
of  peculiar  value,  or  placed  for  a  time  under  peculiar  circum- 
stances. Without  dwelling  on  the  want  of  cleanliness,  when 
the  scurf  and  dust  which  are  brushed  from  the  horse  lodge  in 
his  manger,  experience  teaches  that,  if  the  cold  is  not  too 
great,  the  animal  is  braced  and  invigorated  to  a  degree  that 
cannot  be  attained  in  the  stable,  from  being  dressed  in  the 
open  air.     There  is  no  necessity,  however,  for  half  the  punish- 


EXERCISE.  185 

ment  which  is  often  inflicted  upon  the  horse  in  the  act  of 
dressing ;  and  particularly  on  one  whose  skin  is  thin  and  sen^ 
sitive.  The  curry-comb  should  always  be  applied  lightly. 
With  many  horse's,  its  use  may  be  almost  dispensed  with  ;  and 
even  the  brush  does  not  need  to  be  so  hard,  nor  the  points  of 
the  bristles  so  irregular  as  they  often  are.  A  soft  brush,  with 
a  little  more  weight  of  the  hand,  will  be  equally  effectual,  and 
much  more  pleasant  to  the  horse.  A  hair-cloth,  while  it  will 
seldom  irritate  and  tease,  will  be  almost  sufficient  with  horses 
that  have  a  thin  skin,  and  that  have  not  been  neglected.  After 
all,  it  is  no  slight  task  to  dress  a  horse  as  it  ought  to  be  done. 
It  occupies  no  little  time,  and  demands  considerable  patience, 
as  well  as  dexterity.  '  It  will  be  readily  ascertained  whether  a 
horse  has  been  well  dressed,  by  rubbing  him  with  one  of  the 
fingers-  A  greasy  stain  will  expose  the  idleness  of  the  groom. 
When,  however,  the  horse  is  changing  his  coat,  both  the 
curry-comb  and  the  brush  should  be  used  as  lightly  as  pos- 
sible. 

Whoever  would  be  convinced  of  the  benefit  of  friction  to 
the  horse's  skin,  and  to  the  horse  generally,  needs  only  to  ob' 
serve  the  effects  produced  by  rubbing  the  legs  of  a  tired 
horse  well  witli  the  hands.  While  every  enlargement  subsides, 
and  the  painful  stiffness  disappears,  and  the  legs  attain  their 
natural  warmth  and  become  fine,  the  animal  is  evidently  and 
rapidly  reviving ;  he  takes  hold  of  his  food  with  zest,  and  then 
quietly  lies  down  to  rest. 


EXEECISE. 
The  remarks  upon  this  branch,  also,  can  have  but  a  slight 
reference  to  the  agricultural  horse.     His  work  is  usually,  regu- 


136 


EXERCISE. 


lar,  and  not  exhausting.  He  is  neither  predisposed  to  diseas* 
by  idleness,  nor  worn  out  by  excessive  exertion.  He,  like  bis 
master,  has  enough  to  do  to  keep  him  in  health,  and  not 
enough  to  distress  or  injure  him ;  on  the  contrary,  the  regu- 
larity of  his  work  prolongs  life  to  an  extent  seldom  witnessed 
in  the  stable  of  the  gentleman.  These  remarks  on  exercise, 
then,  must  have  a  general  bearing,  or  have  principal  reference 
to  those  persons  who  keep  a  horse  for  business  or  pleasure, 
but  cannot  afford  to  maintain  a  servant  for  the  express  pur- 
pose of  looking  after  it.  The  first  rule  to  be  laid  down  is, 
that  every  horse  should  have  daily  exercise.  The  animal,  that 
with  the  usual  stable  feeding  stands  idle  for  three  or  four 
days,  as  is  the  case  in  many  establishments,  must  suffer.  He 
is  predisposed  to  fever,  or  to  grease,  or,  most  of  all,  to  diseases 
of  the  foot ;  and  if,  after  three  or  four  days  of  inactivity,  he  is 
ridden  far  and  fast,  he  is  almost  sure  to  have  inflammation  of 
the  lungs  or  of  the  feet. 

Any  horse,  used  for  business  or  pleasure  merely,  suffers  much 

more  from  idleness 

^^^^  than  he   does   from 

l^^W  work.     A  stable-fed 

sJ  horse    should    have 

^    two  hours'  exercise 


^^^  disease. 


\  every  day,  if  he  is 

to  be  kept  free  from 

Nothing 

^  of  extraordinary,  or 

s^^^  even   of    ordinary, 

labor  can  be  effected 

on  the  road   or  in 


EXERCISE.  13Y 

the  field,  without  sufficient  and  regular  exercise.  It  is  tliis 
which  alone  can  give  energy  to  the  system,  and  develop  the 
powers  of  any  animal. 

In  training  the  race-horse,  or  the  horse  for  hunting  pur- 
poses, regular  exercise  is  the  most  important  of  all  considera- 
tions, however  much  it  may  be  neglected  in  the  usual  manage- 
ment of  the  stable.  The  exercised  horse  will  discharge  his 
task,  and  sometimes  a  severe  one,  with  ease  and  pleasure ; 
while  the  idle  and  neglected  one  will  be  fatigued  before  half 
his  labor  is  accomplished  ;  and,  if  he  is  pushed  a  little  too  far, 
dangerous  inflammation  will  ensue.  -How  often,  nevertheless, 
does  it  happen,  that  the  horse  which  has  stood  inactive  in  the 
stable  for  three  or  four  days,  is  ridden  or  driven  thirty  or 
forty  miles  in  the  course  of  a  single  day!  The  rest  is  often 
purposely  given  in  order  that  he  may  be  prepared  for  extra 
exertion — to  lay  in  a  stock  of  strength  for  the  performance 
required  of  him — and  then  the  owner  is  surprised  and  dissatis- 
fied if  the  animal  is  fairly  knocked  up,  or  possibly  becomes 
seriously  ill.  N'othing  is  so  common  and  so  preposterous,  as 
for  a  person  to  buy  a  horse  from  a  dealer's  stable,  where  he  has 
been  idly  fattened  for  sale  for  many  a  day,  and  immediately  to 
give  him  a  long  run,  and  then  to  complain  bitterly,  and  think 
that  he  has  been  imposed  upon,  if  the  animal  is  exhausted  be- 
fore the  end,  or  is  compelled  to  be  led  home  suffering  from 
violent  inflammation.  Regular  and  gradually  increasing  ex- 
ercise would  have  made  the  same  horse  appear  a  treasure  to 
his  owner. 

Exercise  should  be  somewhat  proportioned  to  the  age  of  the 
horse.  A  young  horse  requires  more  than  an  old  one.  Na- 
ture has  given  to  young  animals  of  every  kind  a  disposition  to 


138  FOOD. 

activity ;  but  the  exercise  must  not  be  violent.  Much  depends 
upon  the  manner  in  which  it  is  given.  To  preserve  the  tem- 
per, and  to  promote  health,  it  should  be  moderate,  at  least  at 
the  beginning  and  at  the  termination.  The  rapid  trot,  or  even 
the  gallop,  may  be  resorted  to  in  the  middle  of  the  exercise, 
but  the  horse  should  be  brought  in  cool. 


FOOD. 

One  half  of  the  diseases  of  the  horse  owe  their  origiu  to 
over-feeding  with  hay.  This  applies  more  particularly  to 
young  horses,  and  to  such  as  are  not  put  to  severe  work. 
They  are  ever  placed  before  a  full  rack,  and,  like  children 
gorged  with  bread  and  butter,  they  eat  merely  for  amusement, 
until  at  length  the  stomach  gradually  becomes  preternaturally 
distended,  the  appetite  increases  in  a  relative  proportion,  be- 
comes sooner  or  later  voracious,  and  finally  merges  into  a  mere 
craving — it  being  a  matter  of  indifference  what  the  food  is,  so 
that  the  stomach  is  filled  with  it.  This  depravity  of  appetite 
is  always  accompanied  by  more  or  less  thirst.  This  naturally 
enough  produces  general  debility  of  the  entire  digestive  func- 
tion, including  stomach,  bowels,  liver,  spleen,  and  pancreas ; 
worms  are  produced  in  thousands,  and  symptoms  present 
themselves  of  so  many  varied  hues,  that  enumeration,  far  less 
classification,  becomes  utterly  impossible. 

A  horse^s  appetite  is  not  to  be  taken  as  the  criterion  by 
which  to  determine  the  quantity  of  hay  which  he  is  to  be  per- 
mitted to  consume ;  for  most  horses  will  eat  three  or  four  tiraea 
as  much  as  they  ought.  Horses  have  been  known  to  consume 
thirty  pounds  weight  of  hay  between  a  day  and  a  night ;  and 
ten  pounds  is  the  most  that  should  have  been  given  during 


FOOD.  139 

that  time.  Upon  eight  pounds  of  hay  daily,  with  a  due  allow- 
ance of  oats,  a  horse  can  be  kept  in  full  work,  in  prime  health 
and  spirits.  It  is  better  to  keep  young  horses  at  grass  until 
about  five  years  old,  and  to  work  them  during  that  period. 
When  kept  in  the  stable  and  not  worked  they  are  apt  to  ac- 
quire many  very  bad  habits ;  and  if  the  rack  and  manger  be 
kept  empty,  with  a  view  of  preventing  the  over-loading  of  their 
stomachs,  they  will  fall  into  a  habit  of  playing  with  and  mouth- 
ing them — a  habit  which  finally  degenerates  into  wind-sucking 
or  crib-biting. 

The  system  of  manger-feeding  is  now  becoming  general 
among  farmers.  There  are  few  horses  that  do  not  habitually 
waste  a  portion  of  their  hay ;  and  by  some  the  greater  part  is 
pulled  down  and  trampled  under  foot,  in  order  first  to  cull  the 
sweetest  and  best  locks,  which  could  not  be  done  while  the 
hay  was  confined  in  the  rack.  A  good  feeder  will  afterward 
pick  up  much  of  that  which  was  thrown  down  :  but  some  of  it 
must  be  soiled  and  rendered  disgusting,  and,  in  many  cases, 
one-third  of  this  division  of  their  food  is  wasted.  Some  of  the 
oats  and  beans  are  imperfectly  chewed  by  all  horses,  and 
scarcely  at  all  by  hungry  and  greedy  ones.  The  appearance 
of  the  dung  will  sufficiently  establish  this. 

The  observation  of  this  induced  the  adoption  of  manger- 
feeding,  or  of  mixing  a  portion  of  cut  feed  with  the  grain  and 
beans.  By  this  means  the  animal  is  compelled  to  chew  his 
food ;  he  cannot,  to  any  great  degree,  waste  the  straw  or  hay; 
the  cut  feed  is  too  hard  and  too  sharp  to  be  swallowed  without 
sufficient  mastication,  and  while  he  is  forced  to  grind  that  down, 
the  oats  and  the  beans  are  also  ground  with  it,  and  thus  yield 
more  nourishment ;  the  stomach  is  more  slowly  filled,  and  there- 


140  FOOD. 

fore  acts  better  upon  its  contents,  and  is  not  so  likely  to  bo 
over- loaded  ;  and  the  increased  quantity  of  saliva  thrown  out  in 
the  protracted  maceration  of  the  food,  softens  it,  and  makes  ib 
more  fit  for  digestion. 

Cut  feed  may  be  composed  of  equal  quantities  of  clover  or  of 
meadow  hay ;  and  wheaten,  oaten,  or  barley  straw,  cut  into 
pieces  of  a  half  or  an  incli  in  length,  and  mingled  v/ell  to- 
gether ;  the  allowance  of  oats  or  beans  is  afterwards  added, 
and  mixed  v/ith  the  whole.  Many  farmers  very  properly 
bruise  the  oats  or  beans.  The  v,iiole  oat  is  apt  to  slip  out 
of  the  feed  and  be  lost ;  but  when  it  is  bruised,  and  espe- 
cially if  the  feed  is  wet  a  little,  it  will  not  readily  separate,  or, 
should  a  portion  of  it  escape  the  grinders,  it  v/ill  be  partly  pre- 
pared for  digestion  by  the  act  of  bruising.  The  prejudice 
against  bruising  the  oats  is  utterly  unfounded,  so  far  as  the 
farmer's  horse,  and  the  wagon  horse,  and  every  horse  of  slow 
draught,  are  concerned.  The  quantity  of  straw  in  the  feed  will 
always  counteract,  any  supposed  purgative  quality  in  bruised 
oats.  Horses  of  quicker  draught,  unless  they  are  actually  in- 
clined to  scour,  will  thrive  better  on  bruised  than  on  whole  oats  ; 
for  a  greater  quantity  of  nutriment  will  be  extracted  from  tlie 
food,  and  it  will  always  be  easy  to  apportion  the  quantity  of 
straw  or  beans  to  the  effect  of  the  mixture  on  the  bowels  of  the 
horse.  The  principal  alteration  that  should  be  made  for  the 
horse  of  harder  and  more  rapid  work,  such  as  the  post-horse 
and  the  stage-coach  horse,  is  to  increase  the  quantity  of  hay, 
and  diminish  that  of  straw.  Two  trusses  of  hay  may  be  cut 
with  one  of  straw. 

Some  gentlemen,  in  defiance  of  the  prejudice  and  opposition 
of  the  coachman  or  groom,  have  introduced  this  mode  of  feed- 


FOOD.  141 

ing  into  the  stables  of  their  horsOvS,  and  with  manifest  advantage. 
There  has  been  no  loss  of  condition  or  power,  and  considerable 
saving  of  provender.  This  system  is  not  however,  calculated 
for  the  hunter,  or  the  race-horse.  Their  food  must  lie  in  smaller 
bulk,  in  order  that  the  action  of  the  lungs  may  not  be  impeded 
by  the  distention  of  the  stomach ;  yet  many  hunters  have  gone 
well  over  the  field  who  have  been  manger-fed,  the  proportion 
of  grain,  however,  being  materially  increased. 

For  the  agricultural  and  cart-horse,  eight  pounds  of  oats,  and 
two  of  beans  should  be  added  to  every  tvrenty  pounds  of  cut 
feed.  Thirty-four  or  thirty-six  pounds  of  the  mixture  will  be 
sufficient  for  any  horse  of  moderate  size,  with  fair,  or  even  hard, 
work.  The  dray  and  wagon  horse  may  require  forty  pounds. 
Hay  in  the  rack  at  night  is,  in  this  case,  supposed  to  be  alto- 
gether omitted.  The  rack,  however,  may  remain,  as  occasion- 
ally useful  for  the  sick  horse,  or  to  contain  green  feed. 

Horses  are  very  fond  of  this  provender.  The  great  majority 
of  them,  after  having  become  accustomed  to  it,  will  leave  the 
best  oats  given  to  them  alone,  for  the  sake  of  the  mingled  cut 
feed  and  grain.  The  farmer  should  be  cautioned,  however, 
not  to  set  apart  damaged  hay  for  the  manufacture  of  the 
cut  feed.  The  horse  may  thus  be  induced  to  eat  that  which  he 
Avould  otherwise  refuse,  and  if  the  nourishing  property  of  the 
hay  has  been  impaired,  or  it  has  acquired  an  injurious  principle, 
tlie  animal  v/ill  either  lose  condition,  or  become  diseased.  Much 
more  injury  is  done  by  eating  damaged  hay,  or  musty  oats,  than 
is  generally  imagined.  There  will  be  sufficient  saving  in  the 
diminished  cost  of  the  provender  by  the  introduction  of  the 
straw  and  the  improved  condition  of  the  horse,  without  poison- 
ing him  with  the  refuse  of  the  farm.     For  old  horses,  and  for 


142       ^  FOOD. 

those  with  defective  teeth,  cut  feed  is  peculiarly  useful,  and  for 
them  the  grain  should  be  broken  down  as  well  as  the  fodder. 

While  the  mixture  of  the  cut  feed  with  the  grain  prevents  it 
from  being  too  rapidly  devoured  and  a  portion  of  it  swallowed 
whole,  and  therefore  the  stomach  is  not  too  loaded  with  that 
on  which,  as  containing  the  most  nutriment,  its  chief  digestive 
power  should  be  exerted ;  yet,  on  the  whole,  a  great  deal  of 
time  is  gained  by  this  mode  of  feeding,  and  more  is  left  for  rest. 
When  a  horse  comes  in  wearied  at  the  close  of  the  day,  it  oc- 
cupies, after  he  has  eaten  his  grain,  two  or  three  hours  to  clear 
his  rack.  On  the  system  of  manger-feeding,  the  chaff  being 
already  cut  into  small  pieces,  and  the  beans  and  oats  bruised, 
he  is  able  fully  to  satisfy  his  appetite  in  an  hour  and  a  half. 
Two  additional  hours  are  therefore  devoted  to  rest.  This  is  a 
circumstance  deserving  of  much  consideration,  even  in  the 
farmer's  stable  ;  and  of  immense  consequence  to  the  stage-coach 
proprietor,  the  livery-stable  keeper,  and  the  owner  of  every  hard- 
worked  horse. 

Manger  food  will  be  the  usual  support  of  the  farmer's  horse 
during  the  winter,  and  while  at  constant  or  occasional  hard 
work ;  but  from  the  middle  of  April  to  the  end  of  July,  he 
may  be  fed  with  this  mixture  in  the  day,  and  turned  out  at 
night,  or  he  may  remain  out  during  every  rest-day.  A  team 
in  constant  employ  should  not,  however,  be  suffered  to  be  out 
at  night  after  the  end  of  July. 

The  farmer  should  take  care  that  the  pasture  is  thick  and 
good ;  and  that  the  distance  from  the  yard  is  not  too  great,  or 
the  fields  too  large,  otherwise  a  very  considerable  portion  of 
time  will  be  occupied  in  catching  the  horse  in  the  morning. 
He  will  likewise  have  to  take  into  consideration  the  sale  he 


rooD.  143 

would  have  for  his  hay,  and  the  necessity  of  sweet  and  untrod- 
den   pasture   for   his   cattle.      On  the 
^^  whole,  however,  turning  out  in  this  way, 
when    circumstances 
^  will  admit  of  it,  will 
be  found  to  be  more 
beneficial  for  the  horse, 


OUT  TO  GRASS. 


^m  The  horse  of  the  in- 
ferior farmer  is  sorae- 
^^^=^"  times  fed  on  hay  or 
grass  alone^  and  the 
animal,  although  he  rarely  gets  a  feed  of  grain,  maintains  him- 
self in  tolerable  condition,  and  performs  the  work  required  of 
him  ;  but  hay  and  grass  alone  however  good  in  quality,  or  in 
whatever  quantity  allowed,  will  not  support  a  horse  under  hard 
work.  Other  substances,  containing  a  large  proportion  of 
nutriment  in  a  smaller  compass,  have  been  added ;  a  brief 
enumeration  of  which  follows,  and  an  estimate  is  formed  of  their 
comparative  value. 

In  almost  every  part  of  Great  Britain  and  this  country,  oats 
have  been  selected  as  that  portion  of  the  food  which  is  to  afford 
the  principal  nourishment.  They  contain  from  seven  hundred 
and  forty-three  to  seven  hundred  and  fifty  parts  of  the  nutri- 
tive matter.  They  should  be  about,  or  somewhat  less  than,  a 
year  old,  heavy,  dry,  and  sweet.  New  oats  will  weigh  ten  or 
fifteen  per  cent,  more  than  old  ones ;  but  the  difi'erence  consists 
principally  in  watery  matter,  which  is  gradually  evaporated. 
New  oats  are  not  so  readily  ground  down  by  the  teeth  as  old 


144  FOOD. 

ones.  They  form  a  more  glutinous  mass,  difficult  to  digest, 
and,  when  eaten  in  considerable  quantities,  are  apt  to  occa- 
sion colic,  or  even  staggers.  If  they  are  to  be  used  before 
they  are  from  three  to  five  months  old,  they  would  be  materi- 
ally improved  by  a  little  kiln-drying.  There  is  no  fear  for 
the  horses  from  simple  drying,  if  the  grain  is  good  when  put 
into  the  kiln.  The  old  oat  forms,  when  chewed,  a  smooth  and 
uniform  mass,  which  readily  dissolves  in  the  stomach,  and 
yields  the  nourishment  which  it  contains.  Perhaps  some  chemi- 
cal change  may  have  been  slowly  effected  in  the  old  oat,  dis- 
posing it  to  be  more  readily  assimilated.  Oats  should  be 
plump,  bright  in  color,  and  free  from  unpleasant  smell  or  taste. 
The  musty  smell  of  wet  or  damaged  grain  is  produced  by  a 
fungus  growing  upon  the  seed,  which  has  an  injurious  effect 
upon  the  urinary  organs,  and  often  on  the  intestines,  producing 
profuse  staling,  inflammation  of  the  kidneys,  colic,  and  inflam- 
mation of  the  bowels. 

This  musty  smell  is  removed  by  kiln-drying  the  oat;  but 
care  is  here  requisite  that  too  great  a  degree  of  heat  is  not 
employed.  It  should  be  sufficient  to  destroy  the  fungus  with- 
out injuring  the  life  of  the  seed.  A  considerable  improvement 
would  be  effected  by  cutting  the  unthrashed  oat-straw  into 
chaff,  and  the  expense  of  thrashing  would  be  saved.  Oat- 
straw  is  better  than  that  of  barley,  but  does  not  contain  so 
much  nutriment  as  that  of  wheat. 

When  the  horse  is  fed  on  hay  and  oats,  the  quantity  of  the 
oats  must  vary  with  his  size  and  the  work  to  be  performed. 
In  winter,  four  feeds,  or  fL'om  ten  to  fourteen  pounds  of  oats  in 
the  day,  will  be  a  fair  allowance  for  a  horse  of  fifteen  hands 
and  one  or  two  inches  in  height,  and  that  has  moderate  work. 


FOOD.  145 

In  summer,  half  the  quantity  with  green  feed  will  be  sufificient. 
Those  which  work  on  the  farm  have  from  ten  to  fourteen 
pounds,  and  the  hunter  from  twelve  to  sixteen.  There  are  no 
efficient  and  safe  substitutes  for  good  oats;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
it  may  be  safely  asserted,  that  they  possess  an  invigorating  pro- 
perty which  is  found  in  no  other  kind  of  food. 

Oatmeal  forms  a  poultice  more  stimulating  than  one  com- 
posed of  linseed-meal  alone — or  they  may  be  mingled  in  different 
proportions,  as  circumstances  require.  In  the  form  of  gruel, 
it  constitutes  one  of  the  most  important  articles  of  diet  for  the 
sick  horse ;  not,  indeed,  to  be  forced  upon  him,  but  a  pail  con* 
taining  it  being  slung  in  his  box,  of  which  he  will  soon  begin 
to  drink  when  water  is  denied.  Gruel  is  generally  either  not 
boiled  long  enough,  or  a  sufficient  quantity  of  oatmeal  is  not 
used  for  it.  The  proportions  should  be,  a  pound  of  meal  thrown 
into  a  gallon  of  water,  and  kept  constantly  stirred  until  it  boils, 
and  five  minutes  afterwards. 

White-water,  made  by  stirring  a  pint  of  oatmeal  in  a  pail  of 
water,  the  chill  being  taken  from  it,  is  an  excellent  beverage 
for  the  thirsty  and  tired  horse. 

Barley  is  a  common  food  of  the  horse  in  various  parts  of  the 
continent,  and,  until  the  introduction  of  oats,  seems  to  have 
constituted  almost  his  only  food.  It  is  more  nutritious  than 
oats,  containing  nine  hundred  and  twenty  parts  of  nutritive 
matter  in  every  thousand.  There  seems,  however  to  be  some- 
thing necessary  besides  a  great  proportion  of  nutritive  matter, 
in  order  to  render  any  substance  wholesome,  strengthening,  or 
fattening ;  therefore  it  is,  that  with  many  horses  that  are  hardly 
worked,  and,  indeed,  with  horses  generally,  barley  does  not 
agree  so  well  as  oats.  They  are  occasionally  subject  to  inflam- 
matory complaints,  and  particularly  to  surfeit  and  mange. 
10 


146  FOOD. 

When  barley  is  given,  the  quantity  should  not  exceed  a  peck 
daily.  It  shonld  always  be  bruised,  and  the  chaff  should  con- 
sist of  equal  quantities  of  hay  and  barley-straw,  and  not  cut  too 
short.  If  the  farmer  has  a  quantity  of  spotted  or  unsalable 
barley  that  he  wishes  thus  to  get  rid  of,  he  mast  accustom  his 
horses  to  it  very  gradually,  or  he  will  probably  produce  serious 
illness  among  them.  For  horses  that  are  recovering  from  illness, 
barley,  in  the  form  of  malt,  is  often  serviceable,  as  tempting  the 
appetite  and  recruiting  the  strength.  It  is  best  given  in  mashes 
— water,  considerably  below  the  boiling  heat,  being  poured  upon 
it,  and  the  vessel  or  pail  kept  covered  for  half  an  hour. 

Grain,  fresh  from  the  mash-tub,  either  alone  or  mixed  with 
oats  or  chaff,  or  both,  may  be  given  occasionally  to  horses  of  slow- 
draught  ;  they  would,  however,  afford  very  insufficient  nourish- 
ment for  horses  of  quicker  or  harder  work. 

Wheat  is  more  rarely  given  than  barley.  It  contains  nine 
hundred  and  fifty-five  parts  of  nutritive  matter.  When  farmers 
have  a  damaged  or  unmarketable  sample  of  wheat,  they  some- 
times give  it  to  their  horses,  and,  it  being  at  first  used  in  small 
quantities,  they  become  accustomed  to  it,  and  thrive  and  work 
well ;  it  should,  however,  always  be  bruised,  and  given  in  chaff. 
Wheat  contains  a  greater  portion  o^  gluten,  or  sticky,  adhesive 
matter,  than  any  other  kind  of  grain.  It  is  difficult  of  diges- 
tion, and  apt  to  cake  and  form  obstructions  in  the  bowels.  This 
will  more  often  be  the  case,  if  the  horse  is  suffered  to  drink 
much  water  soon  after  feeding  upon  it. 

Fermentation,  colic,  and  death,  are  occasionally  the  conse- 
quence of  eating  any  great  quantity  of  wheat.  A  horse  that  is 
fed  on  it,  should  have  very  little  hay.  The  proportion  should 
not  be  more  than  one  truss  of  hay  to  two  of  straw.     Wheat  or 


FOOD. 


14T 


flour,  boiled  in  water,  to  the  thickness  of  starch,  is  given  with 
good  effect  in  over-purging,  especially  if  combined  with  chalk 
and  opium. 

Bran,  or  the  ground  husk  of  the  wheat,  used  to  be  frequently 
given  to  sick  horses,  on  account  of  the  supposed  advantage 
derived  from  its  relaxing  the  bowels.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
it  does  operate  gently  on  the  intestinal  canal,  and  assists  in 
quickening  the  passage  of  its  contents,  when  occasionally  given  ; 
but  it  must  not  be  a  constant,  or  even  frequent  food.  Bran  or 
pollard  often  accumulates  in  the  intestines,  when  given  injudi- 
ciously, seriously  impairing  the  digestive  powers.  Bran  may, 
however,  be  useful  as  an  occasional  aperient  in  the  form  of  a 
mash,  but  never  should  become  a  regular  article  of  food. 

Beans  afford  a  striking  illustration  of  the  principle,  that  the 
nourishing  or  strengthening  effects  of  the  different  articles  of 
__j^3^^^i_  food  depend  more  upon  some  peculiar  pro- 
'^'-~-  '^"^^^g" perty  which  they  possess,  or  upon  some 
combination  which  they  form,  than 
upon  the  actual 
g-^  quantity  of  nutri- 
tive matter.  Beans 
iiyinini  contain  but  from 
five  hundred  and 
twenty  to  six  hun- 
dred parts  of  nu- 
tritive matter;  yet 
they  add  materially  to  the  vigor  of  the  horse.  There  are  many 
horses  that  will  not  stand  hard  work  without  beans  being 
mingled  with  their  food ;  and  there  are  horses,  whose  ten- 
dency to  purge  it  may  be  necessary  to  restrain  by  the  astrin- 


THE   AMERICAN   RACER,    BLACK   MARIA 


148  FOOD. 

gency  of  the  bean.  There  are  few  travelers  who  are  not  aware 
of  the  difference  in  the  spirit  and  continuance  of  the  horse, 
whether  he  is  allowed  or  denied  beans  during  the  continuance 
of  the  journey.  They  afford  not  merely  a  temporary  stimulus, 
but  they  may  be  daily  used  without  losing  their  power,  or  pro- 
ducing exhaustion.  They  are  indispensable  to  the  hard-worked 
coach-horse.  Weakly  horses  could  never  get  through  their 
work  without  them ;  and  old  horses  would  otherwise  often  sink 
under  the  task  imposed  upon  them.  They  should  not  be  given 
whole,  or  split,  but  crushed.  This  will  make  a  material  differ- 
ence in  the  quantity  of  nutriment  which  will  be  extracted.  They 
are  sometimes  given  to  turf-horses,  but  only  as  an  occasional 
stimulant.  Two  pounds  of  beans  ma}^  with  advantage,  be 
mixed  with  the  chaff  of  the  agricultural  horse,  during  the  winter. 
In  summer,  the  quantity  of  beans  should  be  lessened,  or  they 
should  be  altogether  discontinued.  Beans  are  generally  given 
whole.  This  is  very  absurd  ;  for  "the  young  horse,  whose  teeth 
are  strong,  seldom  requires  them ;  while  the  old  horse,  to  whom 
they  are  in  a  measure  necessary,  is  scarcely  able  to  masticate 
tliem,  swallows  many  of  them  which  he  is  unable  to  break,  and 
drops  much  grain  from  his  mouth  in  the  ineffectual  attempt  to 
crush  them.  Beans  should  not  be  merely  split,  but  crushed  ;  as 
they  will  even  then  furnish  sufficient  employment  for  the  grin- 
ders of  the  animal.  Some  persons  use  chaff  with  beans,  instead 
of  oats.  This  may  possibly  be  allowed  with  hardly-worked 
horses ;  but,  in  general  cases,  beans  without  oats  would  be  too 
binding  and  stimulating,  and  would  produce  costiveness,  and 
probably  megrims  or  staggers. 

Beans  should  be  at  least  a  twelvemonth  old  before  they  are 
given  to  the  horse,  and  they  should  be  carefully  preserved  from 


FOOD.  149 

damp  and  mouldiness,  which  at  least  disgust  the  animal,  if 
they  do  no  other  harm,  and  harbor  an  insect  which  destroys 
the  inner  part  of  the  bean. 

The  straw  of  the  bean  is  nutritive  and  wholesome,  and  is 
usually  given  to  the  horses.  Its  nutritive  properties  are  sup- 
posed to  be  little  inferior  to  those  of  oats.  The  small  and 
plump  bean  is  generally  the  best. 

Peas  are  occasionally  given.  They  appear  to  be  in  a  slight 
degree  more  nourishing  than  beans,  and  not  so  heating.  They 
contain  five  hundred  and  seventy-four  parts  of  nutritive  matter. 
For  horses  of  slow  work  they  may  be  used  ;  but  the  quantity 
of  chaff  should  be  increased,  and  a  few  oats  added.  They  have 
not  been  found  to  answer  with  horses  of  quick  draught.  It  is 
essential  that  they  should  be  crushed  ;  otherwise,  on  account  of 
their  globular  form,  they  arc  apt  to  escape  from  the  teeth,  and 
many  are  swallowed  wliole.  Exposed  to  w^armth  and  moisture 
in  the  stomach,  they  swell  considera61y,  and  may  painfully  and 
injudiciously  distend  it.  The  peas  that  are  given  to  horses 
should  be  sound,  and  at  least  a  year  old.  In  some  sections, 
pea-meal  is  frequently  used,  not  only  as  an  excellent  food  for 
the  horse,  but  as  a  remedy  for  diabetes, 

LixsEEU  is  sometimes  given  to  sick  horses — raw,  ground,  and 
boiled.     It  is  supposed  to  be  useful  in  cases  of  catarrh. 

Indian  Corn  in  combination  with  roots,  forms  a  valuable 
article  of  diet.  Horses  will  eat  the  mess  with  an  avidity  of 
appetite  calculated  to  excite  surprise  at  first.  The  mess,  to 
which  a  little  salt  should  invariably  be  added,  will  keep  them 
in  fair  average  condition  ;  and  those  which  it  is  desirable  to 
fatten  may  have  a  small  quantity  of  oats,  pea  or  bran  meal 
added. 


150  FOOD. 

Hay  is  most  in  perfection  when  it  is  about  a  year  old.  The 
horse,  perhaps,  would  prefer  it  earlier,  but  it  is  then  neither  so 
wholesome  nor  so  nutritive,  and  often  has  a  purgative  quality. 
When  it  is  about  a  year  old,  it  retains,  or  should  retain,  some- 
what of  its  green  color,  its  agreeable  smell,  and  its  pleasant 
taste.  It  has  undergone  the  slow  process  of  fermentation,  by 
which  the  sugar  which  it  contains  is  developed,  and  its  nutritive 
quality  is  fully  exercised.  Old  hay  becomes  dry  and  tasteless, 
and  innutritive  and  unwholesome.  After  the  grass  is  cut,  and 
the  hay  stacked,  a  slight  degree  of  fermentation  takes  place  in 
it.  This  is  necessary  for  the  development  of  the  saccharine 
principle ;  but  it  occasionally  proceeds  too  far,  and  the  hay  be- 
comes mow-burnt,  in  which  state  it  is  injurious,  or  even  poison- 
ous. The  horse  soon  shows  the  effect  which  it  has  upon  him» 
He  has  diabetes  to  a  considerable  degree ;  he  becomes,  hide- 
bound ;  his  strength  is  wasted  ;  his  thirst  is  excessive  ;  and  he 
is  almost  worthless. 

Where  the  system  of  manger-feeding  is  not  adopted,  or  where 
hay  is  still  allowed  at  night,  and  chaff  and  grain  in  the  day, 
there  is  no  error  into  which  the  farmer  is  so  apt  to  fall  as  to 
give  an  undue  quantity,  and  that  generally  of  the  worst  kind. 
The  pernicious  results  of  this  practice  have  been  already  men- 
tioned in  the  commencement  of  this  head,  and  the  practice  can- 
not be  too  strongly  reprobated. 

It  is  a  good  practice  to  sprinkle  the  hay  with  water  in  which 
salt  has  been  dissolved.  It  is  evidently  more  palatable  to  the 
animal  who  will  leave  the  best  unsalted  hay  for  that  of  an  infe- 
rior quality  which  has  been  moistened  with  brine ;  and  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  the  salting  materially  assists  the  process 
of  digestion.     The  preferable  way  of  salting  hay  is  to  sprinkle 


FOOD.  151 

it  over  the  different  layers  as  it  is  put  away,  or  as  the  stack  is 
formed.  From  its  attraction  to  water,  it  would  combine  with 
that  excess  of  moisture  which  in  wet  seasons,  is  the  cause  of  too 
rapid  and  violent  fermentation,  and  of  the  hay  becoming  mois- 
tened, Of  of  the  stack  catching  fire,  and  it  would  become  more 
incorporated  with  the  hay.  The  only  objection  to  its  being  thus 
used  is,  that  the  color  of  the  hay  is  not  so  bright ;  but  this  will 
be  of  little  consequence  for  home  consumption. 

Clover  is  useful  for  soiling  the  horse ;  and  clover  hay  is 
preferable  to  meadow  hay  for  chaff.  It  will  sometimes  tempt 
the  sick  horse,  and  may  be  given  with  advantage  to  those  of 
slow  and  heavy  work  ;  but  custom  seems  properly  to  have  for- 
bidden it  to  the  roadster  or  those  used  for  quick  work. 

The  Swedish  Turnip  is  an  article  of  food,  the  value  of 
which,  particularly  for  agricultural  horses,  has  not  been  suf- 
ficiently appreciated.  Although  it  is  far  from  containing  the 
amount  of  nutritive  matter  which  many  have  supposed,  that 
which  it  has  seems  to  be  capable  of  complete  and  easy  diges- 
tion. It  should  be  sliced  with  chopped  straw,  and  without  hay. 
It  quickly  fattens  the  horse,  and  produces  a  smooth  glossy  coat 
and  a  loose  skin.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  give  it  once  a  day,  and 
that  at  night  when  the  work  is  done. 

The  virtues  of  Carrots  are  not  sufficiently  known,  both  as 
contributing  to  the  strength  and  endurance  of  the  sound  horse, 
and  to  the  rapid  recovery  of  the  sick  one.  To  the  healthy 
horse  they  should  be  given  sliced  in  his  chaff.  Half  a  bushel 
will  be  a  fair  daily  allowance.  There  is  little  provender,  of 
which  the  horse  is  more  fond.  There  is  none  better,  nor,  per- 
haps, so  good.  When  first  given,  it  is  slightly  diuretic  and 
laxative,  but  as  the  horse  becomes  accustomed  to  it,  these  effects 


152  rooD. 

cease  to  be  produced.  They  also  improve  the  state  of  the  skin. 
They  form  a  good  substitute  for  grass,  and  an  excellent  altera- 
tive for  horses  out  of  condition.  For  sick  and  idle  horses  they 
render  grain  unnecessary.  They  are  beneficial  in  all  chronic 
diseases  connected  with  breathing,  and  have  a  marked  influence 
upon  chronic  cough  and  broken  wind.  They  are  serviceable 
in  diseases  of  the  skin,  and  in-  combination  with  oats  they  re- 
store a  worn  horse  much  sooner  than  oats  alone. 

Potatoes  have  been  given  and  with  advantage  in  their  raw 
state,  sliced  with  chaff;  but,  where  it  has  been  convenient  to 
boil  or  steam  them,  the  benefit  has  been  far  more  evident. 
Purging  then  has  rarely  ensued.  Some  have  given  boiled  pota- 
toes alone,  and  horses,  instead  of  rejecting  them,  have  soon 
preferred  them  even  to  oats  ;  but  it  is  better  to  mix  them  with  the 
usual  manger  feed,  in  the  proportion  of  one  pound  of  potatoes 
to  two  and  a  half  pounds  of  the  other  ingredients.  The  use  of 
the  potato  must  depend  upon  its  cheapness,  and  tlie  facility 
for  boiling  it.  Those  who  have  tried  potatoes  extensively  in 
the  feeding  of  horses,  assert  that  an  acre  of  potatoes  goes  as 
far  as  four  acres  of  hay.  A  horse  fed  upon  them  should  have 
his  quantity  of  water  materially  curtailed.  Half  a  dozen  horses 
would  soon  repay  the  expense  of  a  steaming  boiler  for  potatoes 
in  the  saving  of  provender  alone,  without  taking  into  account 
their  improved  condition  and  capability  for  work. 

The  times  of  feeding  should  be  as  equally  divided  as  conve- 
nience will  permit ;  and  when  it  is  likely  that  the  horse  will  be 
kept  longer  than  usual  from  home,  the  nose-bag  should  inva- 
riably be  taken.  The  small  stomach  of  the  horse  is  emptied  in 
a  few  hours  ;  and  if  he  is  allowed  to  remain  hungry  much  be- 
yond his  accustomed  time,  he  will  afterwards  devour  his  food 


WATER.  153 

SO  voraciously  as  to  distend  the  stomach  and  endanger  an  attack 
of  the  staggers. 

When  extra  work  is  required  from  the  animal,  the  system  of 
management  is  often  injudicious ;  for  a  double  feed  is  put  upon 
him,  and  as  soon  as  he  has  swallowed  it,  he  is  started.  It  would 
be  far  better  to  give  him  a  double  feed  on  the  previous  evening, 
which  would  be  digested  before  he  is  wanted,  and  then  he  might 
set  out  in  the  morning,  after  a  very  small  portion  of  grain  had 
been  given  to  him,  or,  perhaps,  only  a  little  hay.  One  of  the 
most  successful  methods  of  enabling  a  horse  to  get  well  through 
a  long  journey,  is  to  give  him  only  a  little  at  a  time  while  on 
the  road,  and  at  night  to  indulge  him  with  a  double  feed  of 
grain  and  a  full  allowance  of  beans. 


The  watering  of  the  horse  is  a  very  important  but  disregarded 
portion  of  his  general  management,  especially  by  the  farmer. 
He  lets  his  horses  loose  morning  and  night,  and  they  go  to  the 
nearest  pond  or  brook  and  drink  their  fill,  and  no  harm  results  ; 
for  they  obtain  that  kind  of  water  which  nature  designed  them 
to  have,  in  a  manner  prepared  for  them  by  some  unknown  in- 
fluence of  the  atmosphere,  as  well  as  by  the  deposition  of  many 
saline  admixtures. 

The  kind  of  water  fitted  for  the  horse  has  not  been,  as  a 
general  thing,  sufficiently  considered.  The  difference  between 
what  is  termed  hard  and  so/^  water,  is  a  circumstance  of  general 
observation.  The  former  contains  certain  saline  principles, 
which  decompose  some  bodies,  as  appears  in  the  curdling  of 
6oap,  and  prevent  the  decomposition  of  others,  as  in  the  making 
of  tea,  the  boiling  of  vegetables,  and  the  process  of  brewing. 


154  WATER. 

It  is  natural  to  suppose  that  these  diflferent  kinds  of  water  would 
produce  somewhat  differing  effects  upon  the  animal  frame :  and 
such  is  the  case.  Hard  water,  freshly  drawn  from  the  well, 
will  frequently  roughen  the  coat  of  the  horse  unaccustomed  to 
it,  or  cause  griping  pains,  or  materially  lessen  the  animal's 
power  of  exertion.  The  racing  and  the  hunting-groom  are 
perfectly  aware  of  this ;  and  instinct  or  experience  has  made 
even  the  horse  conscious  of  it,  for  he  will  never  drink  hard 
water  if  he  has  access  to  soft,  and  he  will  leave  the  most  trans- 
parent and  the  purest  water  of  the  well  for  a  river,  although 
the  stream  may  be  turbid,  and  even  for  the  muddiest  pool. 
Some  trainers,  indeed,  have  so  much  fear  of  hard  or  strange 
water,  that  they  carry  with  them  to  the  different  courses  the 
water  which  the  animal  has  been  accustomed  to  drink,  and  that 
which  they  know  agrees  with  it. 

The  temperature  of  the  water  is  of  far  more  consequence  than 
its  hardness.  It  will  rarely  harm  if  taken  from  the  pond  or 
the  running  stream;  but  its  coldness,  when  recently  drawn  from 
the  well,  has  often  proved  injurious;  it  has  produced  colic, 
spasms,  and  even  death. 

There  is  often  considerable  prejudice  against  the  horse  being 
fairly  supplied  with  water.  It  is  supposed  to  chill  him,  to 
injure  his  wind,  or  to  incapacitate  him  for  hard  work.  It  cer- 
tainly would  do  so,  if,  immediately  after  drinking  his  fill,  he 
were  galloped  hard ;  but  not  if  he  were  suffered  to  quench  his 
thirst  more  frequently  when  at  rest  in  the  stable.  The  horse 
that  has  free  access  to  water,  will  not  drink  so  much  in  the 
course  of  the  day  as  another,  who,  in  order  to  cool  his  parched 
mouth,  swallows  as  fast  as  he  can,  and  knows  not  when  to 
stop. 


WATER.  165 

A  horse  may,  with  perfect  safety,  be  far  more  liberally  sup- 
plied with  water  than  he  generally  is.  An  hour  before  his  work 
commences,  he  should  be  permitted  to  drink  a  couple  of  quarts. 
A  greater  quantity  might  probably  be  objectionable.  He  will 
perform  his  task  far  more  pleasantly  and  effectually  than  with 
a  parched  mouth  and  tormenting  thirst.  The  prejudice  both 
of  the  hunting  and  the  training  groom  on  this  point  is  cruel, 
as  well  as  injurious.  The  task  or  the  journey  being  accom- 
plished, and  th^  horse  having  had  his  head  and  neck  dressed, 
his  legs  and  feet  washed,  should  have  his  water  before  his  body 
is  cleaned.  When  dressed,  his  grain  may  be  offered  to  him, 
which  he  will  readily  take  ;  but  water  should  never  be  given 
immediately  before  or  after  the  grain. 

If  the  horse  were  watered  three  times  a  day,  especially  in 
summer,  he  would  often  be  saved  from  the  sad  torture  of  thirst 
and  from  many  a  disease.  Whoever  has  observed  the  eagerness 
with  which  the  overworked  horse,  hot  and  tired,  plunges  his 
muzzle  into  the  pail,  and  the  difiQculty  of  stopping  him  before 
he  has  drained  the  last  drop,  may  form  some  idea  of  his  previ- 
ous suffering,  and  will  not  wonder  at  the  violent  spasms,  inflam- 
mation, and  sudden  death,  that  often  follow. 

It  is  a  judicious  rule  with  travelers,  that  when  a  horse  begins 
to  refuse  his  food,  he  should  be  pushed  no  further  that  day.  It 
may,  however,  be  worth  while  to  ascertain  whether  this  does 
not  proceed  from  thirst  as  much  as  from  exhaustion  ;  for  in 
many  instances  his  appetite  and  his  spirits  will  return  soon 
after  he  has  partaken  of  the  refreshing  draught. 


15G  PASTURING. 

PASTUKI'NG. 

So  far  as  mere  health  is  concerned,  grass  is  the  most  salubri- 
ous food  which  the  horse  can  receive.  When  it  is  eaten  where 
it  grows,  the  horse  is  said  to  be  turned  out,  to  be  getting  a  run 
at  grass,  or  to  be  at  grass.  When  it  is  cut,  and  consumed  in 
the  stable,  the  horse  is  said  to  be  soiled. 

It  is  probable  that  grass  eaten  in  the  field  produces  quite  the 
same  effects  as  that  eaten  in  the  stable.  But  at  pasture,  there 
are  several  agents  in  operation  to  which  the  stabled  horse  is  not 
necessarily  exposed.  The  exercise  which  he  must  take  ;  the 
position  w^hich  his  head  must  assume,  in  order  that  he  may  ob- 
tain food  ;  the  annoyance  he  suffers  from  flies ;  his  exposure  to 
the  weather ;  the  influence  of  tlie  soil  upon  the  feet  and  legs ; 
and  the  quantity  of  food  placed  at  his  disposal  ;  are  the  prin- 
cipal points  wherein  pasturing  differs  from  soiling. 

The  Exercise  which  he  must  take  as  he  gathers  his  food, 
varies  according  to  the  herbage.  When  tlie  ground  is  bare, 
the  exercise  may  amount  even  to  work,  but  to  a  sound  horse 
it  is  never  injurious ;  in  cold  w^eather  it  keeps  him  w^arm,  or, 
at  least,  prevents  him  from  becoming  very  cold.  Witli  a  lame 
horse,  the  case  is  different.  In  some  species  of  lameness,  as 
in  chronic  diseases  of  the  joints,  the  slow  but  constant  exercise 
thus  rendered  necessary  is  highly  beneficial ;  but  the  exertion 
demanded  by  a  bare  pasture  is  unfavorable  to  any  sprain  or 
lameness  arising  from  disease  in  the  ligaments  and  tendons. 
Lameness,  when  very  great,  no  mattoi'  vrhere  seated,  forbids 
pasturing,  even  though  the  grass  be  knee-high.  The  pain  of 
standing,  and  moving  on  two  or  three  legs,  may  be  so  great 
ihat  the  horse  will  be  obliged  to  lie  down  before  he  ha^ob- 


PASTURING. 


157 


taincil  Iialf  a  meal.  It  is  for  slight  lameness  only  that  horses 
slionld  be  turned  out ;  and  the  pasture  should  be  such  as  to 
afford  suSicieut  nutriment,  without  giving  the  horse  more  ex- 
ercise than  is  good  for  the  disease. 

The  legs  of  fast-working  horses  often  become  turned,  shape- 
^^^^^^^^^^*  less,  tottering,  bent  at  the  knee,  and 
"  "      '^^  straight  at  the  pasterns.  These 

^  always   improve    at 
—    pasture,  as,  indeed, 
they  do  in  the  sta- 
ble,   or   loose-box, 


=j^^,~i^  when  the  horse  is 
thrown  out  of  work. 
Grazing   exercise 
does  not  appear  to 
PASTURING.  be    unfavorable    to 

their  restoration  ;  but  when  the  knees  are  very  much  bent,  the 
horse  is  unfit  for  turning  out ;  he  cannot  graze  ;  when  his  head 
is  down,  he  is  ready  to  fall  upon  his  nose,  and  it  costs  him 
much  effort  to  maintain  his  balance. 

The  position  of  the  head  in  the  act  of  grazing  is  unfavor- 
able to  the  return  of  blood  from  the  brain,  from  the  eyes,,  from 
all  parts  of  the  head.  Horses  that  have  had  staggers,  or  bad 
eyes,  those  that  have  recently  lost  a  jugular  vein,  and  those 
that  have  any  disease  about  the  head — strangles,  for  instance- 
should  not  be  sent  to  pasture.  The  disease  becomes  worse,  or, 
if  gone,  is  apt  to  return.  Even  healthy  horses  are  liable  to 
attacks  on  the  brain,  when  turned  to  grass,  particularly  when 
the  weather  is  hot,  and  the  herbage  abundant. 

Horses  that  have  been  for  more  than  a  year  in  the  stable, 


158  PASTURING. 

and  especially  those  that  have  been  reined  up  in  harness,  often 
experience  considerable  difficulty  in  grazing.  The  neck  is 
rigid,  and  the  muscles  which  support  the  head  are  short.  It 
is  often  several  weeks  before  an  old  coach-horse  can  graze 
with  ease.  Yery  old  coach-horses  that  have  short,  stiff  necks, 
should  not  be  turned  out  when  they  can  be  kept  in  ;  if  they 
must  go,  they  should  be  watched,  lest  they  die  of  want. 

Exposure  to  the  Weather.  Wet,  cold  weather  always 
produces  emaciation  and  a  long  coat.  If  the  horse  is  put  out 
without  preparation,  he  is  apt  to  have  an  attack  of  inflamed 
lungs,  or  sore  throat,  or  a  common  cold,  with  discharge  from 
the  nose,  and  may  sicken  and  die.  Many  persons  seem  to  think 
that  no  usage  is  too  bad  for  the  horse,  if  it  do  not  immediately 
produce  some  fatal  disease.  Early  in  spring,  or  late  in  au- 
tumn, the  animal  is  turned  out  of  a  warm,  comfortable  stable, 
and  left  to  battle  with  the  weather  as  he  best  can.  He  crouches 
to  the  side  of  a  wall,  shivering  and  neglected,  as  if  he  had  no 
friend  in  the  world.  In  time,  the  horse  becomes  inured  to  the 
weather,  if  he  does  not  sink  under  it,  but  sometimes  he  comes 
home  with  diseased  lungs,  and  very  often  with  a  cough  which 
never  leaves  him,  and  which  produces  broken  wind. 

Shelter,  so  easily  provided — at  the  cost  of  a  few  rude 
boards  even — is  too  much  neglected  in  the  pasture.  A  hovel, 
covered  on  three  sides,  the  fourth  open  to  the  south,  and  just 
high  enough  to  admit  the  horse,  will  answer  the  purpose. 
The  bottom  should  be  sloping,  elevated,  and  quite  dry.  When 
litter  can  be  afforded,  it  will  tempt  the  horse  out  of  the  blast. 
There  may  be  hay-racks  and  mangers,  strong,  though  of  rude 
construction.  In  summer,  the  horse  can  retire  here  during  the 
heat  of  the  day,  and  in  the  more  inclement  season  he  may  thus 
avoid  the  wind  and  the  storm. 


PASTURING.  159 

Exposure  to  hot  weather  is  not  so  pernicious,  although  it 
always  produces  pain,  if  the  horse  be  turned  out  in  the  middle 
of  summer.  For  a  while  he  is  fevered  all  day  and  loses  flesh  ; 
but  he  soon  recovers.  The  parts  that  are  most  apt  to  suffer 
are  the  brain  and  the  eyes.  Staggers,  that  is,  an  affection  of 
the  brain,  is  not  common,  and  the  eyes  never  suffer  permanent 
mischief.  They  are  inflamed  by  the  flies,  but  the  brain  is  in- 
jured, partly  by  the  heat,  and  partly  by  the  pendent  position 
of  the  head. 

Flies.  The  horse  is  persecuted  by  at  least  three  kinds  of 
flies.  One,  the  common  horse-fly,  settles  on  his  ears  and  dif- 
ferent parts  of  his  body,  tickling  and  teazing  him.  Another  is 
a  large  fly,  termed  the  gad-fly ;  it  is  a  blood-sucker,  bites  pretty 
smartly,  and  irritates  some  tender-skinned  horses*'  almost  to 
madness,  forcing  them  sometimes  to  rush  into  the  water  to 
escape  their  attacks.  Another  fly  is  a  small  insect, whose  name 
is  unknown,  which  lives  in  the  blood,  attacking  those  parts 
where  the  skin  is  thinnest,  as  the  eyelids,  inside  and  outside,  the 
sheath,  and  the  vagina.  The  eyelids  especially  always  swell 
where  this  fly  abounds,  and  the  swelling  is  sometimes  so  great 
as  to  make  the  horse  nearly  blind,  while  the  eye  is  red  and 
weeping.     The  injury  however,  is  not  permanent. 

The  principal  defense  which  the  horse  has  against  these 
puny,  but  tormenting  enemies,  is  his  tail.  On  some  parts  of 
his  body  he  can  remove  them  with  his  teeth  and  his  feet ;  and 
that  which  cannot  be  done  by  these,  is  done  by  the  tail.  With 
us,  however,  in  far  too  many  instances  the  effective  instrument 
which  nature  has  furnished  is  removed,  or  materially  impaired, 
before  he  has  attained  maturity;  and,  as  if  the  pains  of 
servitude  were  not  sufficiently  great  and  numerous,  domestica- 
tion is  rendered  still  more  intolerable  by  whim  and  caprice. 


160  PASTURING. 

The  soil.  Mucb  has  been  said  about  the  influence  of  the 
soil  upon  the  horse's  feet  and  legs,  and  much  exaggeration  of 
assertion  has  been  set  afloat.  Horses  reared  in  soft,  marshy- 
pastures  have  large  flat  feet,  low  at  the  heels,  and  weak  every- 
where. On  dry  ground  the  hoof  is  hard,  strong,  and  small, 
the  sole  concave,  and  the  heels  high.  But  to  impart  any 
peculiar  character  to  the  hoof,  or  to  produce  any  change  upon 
it,  a  long  and  continuous  residence  upon  the  same  kind  of 
soil  is  necessary.  A  period  of  six  months  may  produce  some 
change;  but  it  is  so  insignificant  in  general  that  it  is  not 
apparent. 

The  low  temperature  at  which  the  feet  and  legs  are  kept  in 
a  moist  pasture  has  probably  some  influence,  though  not  very 
great,  in  al^atiiig  inflammation  in  those  parts.  The  legs  be- 
come finer  and  free  from  tumors  and  gourdiness  ;  but  they 
would  improve  nearly  or  quite  as  soon,  and  as  much,  in  a 
loose  box. 

When  the  pastures  are  hard  and  baked  by  the  sun,  unshod 
horses  are  apt  to  break  away  the  crust,  and  they  often  come 
home  with  hardly  horn  enough  to  hold  a  nail.  Feet  that  have 
never  been  shod  suffer  less;  others  should,  as  a  general  thing, 
be  preserved  by  light  shoes,  especially  on  the  fore  feet ;  kick- 
ing horses,  when  shod  behind,  are  rather  dangerous  among 
others. 

It  has  been  supposed  that  the  act  of  grazing  throws  con- 
siderable stress  upon  the  tendons  of  the  fore  legs,  and  ulti- 
mately impairs  them.  This  has  been  urged  against  grazing 
hunters  ;  but  so  far  as  sound  legs  are  concerned,  there  seems 
to  be  no  foundation  for  the  supposition,  and  it  certainly  has 
never  been  proved. 


PASTURINO.  161 

■  Quantity  of  food.  In  the  stable,  a  horse^s  food  can  be 
apportioned  to  him  as  his  wants  may  require ;  but  at  pasture, 
he  may  get  too  much  or  too  little.  It  is  difficult  to  put  the 
horse  where  he  will  obtain  all  the  nourishment  he  needs,  and 
no  more.  In  a  rich  pasture,  he  may  acquire  an  inconvenient 
load  of  fat ;  in  a  poor  one,  he  may  be  half  starved.  If  he 
must  go  out,  he  may  be  taken  in  before  he  becomes  too  fat ; 
or  he  may  be  placed  in  a  bad  pasture,  and  fed  up  to  the  point 
required  by  a  daily  allowance  of  grain. 

Time  of  turning  out.  Horses  are  pastured  at  all  times  of 
the  year.  Some  are  out  for  lameness,  some  for  bad  health, 
and  some,  that  they  may  be  kept  for  less  than  the  stable 
cost.  The  usual  time  of  turning  out  is  about  the  end  of 
April,  or  the  beginning  of  May.  Then  the  grass  is  young, 
juicy,  tender,  and  more  laxative  than  at  a  later  period.  The 
spring  grass  is  best  for  a  horse  in  bad  health,  worn  out  by 
sickness,  hard  work,  or  bad  food.  The  weather  is  mild,  neither 
too  hot  nor  too  cold ;  when  it  is  unsettled  and  backward,  the 
delicate  horse,  and  sometimes  every  one,  should  come  in  at 
night  and  on  bleak  days.  Toward  the  end  of  summer,  the 
grass  is  hard,  dry,  coarse,  fit  enough  to  afford  nutriment,  but 
not  to  renovate  a  shattered  constitution.  The  days  are  hot, 
the  nights  cold  and  damp,  and  the  flies  strong  and  numerous. 
This  is  not  the  time  for  turning  out  a  delicate  or  thin-skinned 
horse. 

Many  persons  are  accustomed  to  give  the  horse  a  dose  or 
two  of  physic  before  sending  him  to  grass.  Unless  the  animal 
has  tumid  legs,  or  is  afflicted  with  some  ailment,  this  is  en- 
tirely unnecessary,  though  it  may  do  no  harm.  To  prepare 
the  horse  for  exposure  to  the  weather, 'the  clothing  to  which 
11 


162  PASTURING. 

he  has  been  accustomed  is  lightened,  and  then  entirely  re- 
moved, a  week  or  two  before  turning  him  out.  The  tempera- 
ture of  the  stable  is  gradually  reduced,  until  it  becomes  as 
cool  as  the  external  air.  These  precautions  are  most  neces- 
sary for  horses  that  have  been  much  in  the  stable,  and  particu- 
larly a  warm  stable.  For  eight  or  ten  days  previous  to  going 
out,  the  animal  should  not  be  groomed.  The  dust  and  per- 
spiration which  accumulate  upon  the  hair,  seem  in  some 
measure  to  protect  the  skin  from  rain  and  from  flies.  The 
feet  should  be  dressed,  and  the  grass  shoes,  or  plates,  applied 
a  week  before  turning  out.  If  they  are  injured  by  the  nails, 
the  injury  will  become  apparent  before  much  mischief  is  done  ; 
at  grass  it  might  not  be  noticed  so  soon.  On  the  day  of  going 
out,  the  horse  should  be  fed  as  usual.  If  he  goes  to  grass 
when  very  hungry,  he  may  eat  too  much.  Indigestion  will  be 
the  result,  which  may  prove  fatal.  AVeather  permitting,  night 
is  usually  chosen  for  the  time  of  turning  out,  as  the  horse  is 
not  so  apt  to  gallop  about.  Let  loose  in  the  day  time,  many 
are  disposed  to  gallop  till  they  lame  themselves,  and  to  try 
the  fences. 

In  autumn,  or  early  in  spring,  the  stable  preparation  for 
grass  is  often  insuflBcient.  If  the  horse  be  tender,  or  the 
weather  unsettled,  he  should  be  taken  home  every  night, 
for  perhaps  the  first  week.  For  eight  or  ten  days  longer, 
it  may  be  proper  to  house  him  on  very  wet  or  stormy  nights. 
The  stable  given  to  him  should  always  be  cool,  not  so  cold 
as  the  external  air,  but  never  so  warm  as  if  he  were  accus- 
tomed to  it 

Confinement.  Some  horses  are  not  easily  confined  at  pas- 
ture.    They  break  or  •leap  the  fences,  and  wander  over  the 


PASTURING.  163 

country,  or  proceed  to  the  stable.  The  fore  feet  are  some- 
times shackled  in  order  to  conBne  them ;  but  these  fetters,  if 
worn  for  a  long  time,  are  apt  to  alter  the  horse's  action,  ren- 
dering it  short,  confined,  irregular,  at  least  for  a  time,  till  he 
regains  the  use  of  his  shoulders.  Sometimes  the  horse  is  tied 
by  a  rope  to  a  stake  driven  in  the  ground.  He  then  requires 
almost  constant  watching,  for  he  must  be  often  shifted  as  he 
eats  down  the  grass,  and  he  may  get  his  legs  entangled  in  the 
rope,  thereby  casting  himself,  and  receiving  serious  injury, 
u-nless  relief  be  immediate.  Sometimes  he  is  tied  to  a  stake, 
which  he  can  drag  about  the  field.  He  soon  finds  that  he  can 
walk  where  he  pleases,  but  he  cannot  run,  and  seldom  attempts 
to  leap.  This,  however,  is  also  liable  to  throw  the  horse 
down,  or  to  injure  his  legs  by  getting  them  entangled  in  the 
rope.  To  prevent  the  horse  from  leaping,  a  board  is  some- 
times suspended  round  his  neck,  reaching  to  his  knees,  which 
it  as  apt  to  bruise.  None  of  these  clumsy  and  unsafe  restraints 
should  ever  be  employed,  when  it  is  possible  to  dispense  with 
them.  Few  horses,  mares  in  spring  and  stallions  excepted, 
require  them  after  the  first  two  days.  For  horses  that  are 
turned  out  only  an  hour  or  two  during  the  day,  they  are  as 
much  used  to  enable  him  to  be  easily  caught  when  wanted,  as 
to  prevent  him  from  wandering. 

Attendance  "while  out.  Horses  at  grass  should  be  visited 
at  least  once  every  day.  If  neglected  for  weeks,  as  often 
happens,  one  may  be  stolen,  and  conveyed  out  of  the  country 
before  he  is  missed  ;  the  fences  may  be  broken  ;  the  water 
may  fail;  the  horses  may  be  lamed,  or  attacked  with  sickness-, 
one  may  roll  into  a  ditch,  and  die  there  for  want  of  assistance 
to  extricate  him  j  the  shoes  may  be  cast ;  the  heels  may  crack ; 


164  PASTURINa. 

thrushes  may  form  ;  sores  may  run  into  sinuses,  or  become  full 
of  maggots ;  the  feet  and  legs  may  be  injured  by  stubs,  thorns, 
broken  glass,  or  kicks  ;  or  the  horses  may  quarrel,  fight,  and 
wound  each  other.  That  these  and  similar  evils  and  accidents 
may  be  obviated,  or  soon  repaired,  the  horses  should  be  visited 
every  morning  by  a  trustworthy  person  who  knows  what  is  re- 
quired of  him. 

The  grain,  hay — either  or  both — if  any  be  given,  should  be 
furnished  at  regular  intervals  ;  when  fed  with  grain,  the  horses 
ought  to  be  watched  till  it  is  eaten,  lest  they  rob  each  other, 
or  some  prowling  thief  appropriate  the  whole.  Horses  at 
grass  require,  and  should  have,  no  dressing,  as  it  exposes  the 
skin  too  much.  The  shoes  may  be  removed,  however,  and  the 
feet  dressed  every  four  or  five  weeks. 

Treatment  after  Grazing.  When  taken  from  grass  to 
warm  stables,  and  put  upon  rich,  constipating  food,  horses  fre- 
quently become  diseased.  Some  catch  cold,  some  suffer  in- 
flammation in  the  eyes,  some  take  swelled  legs,  cracked  heels, 
grease,  thrushes,  founders,  surfeit,  or  a  kind  of  mange. 
These  are  very  common ;  and  physic  is  often,  and  indeed 
generally,  given  to  prevent  them.  They  are  produced  by  a 
combination  of  circumstances  ;  by  sudden  transition  from  gentle 
exercise  and  indolence  or  exciting  work ;  from  a  temperate  to 
stimulating  diet ;  from  a  pure,  cool,  and  moving  atmosphere, 
to  an  air  comparatively  corrupt,  hot,  and  stagnant.  These 
changes  must  be  made,  and  are,  to  a  certain  extent,  unavoid- 
able ;  but  it  is  not  in  all  cases  necessary  that  they  should  be 
made  suddenly.  It  is  the  rapid  transition  from  one  thing  to 
another  and  a  diflferent  thing,  that  does  all  the  mischief.  If  it 
were  effected  by  slow  degrees,  the  evils  would  be  avoided,  and 


PASTURING.  165 

there  would  be  less  need,  or  none  at  all,  for  those  medicines 
which  are  given  to  prevent  them. 

During  the  first  week,  the  temperature  of  the  stable  ought 
to  be  little  different  from  that  of  the  external  air.  Sub- 
sequently it  may  be  raised,  by  slow  degrees,  till  it  is  as  warm 
as  the  work  or  other  circumstances  demand.  The  horse  should 
not  at  first  be  clothed,  and  his  first  clothing  should  be  light. 
Grooming  may  commence  on  the  first  day  ;  but  it  is  not  good 
to  expose  the  skin  very  quickly  by  a  thorough  dressing.  The 
food  should  be  laxative,  consisting  of  bran-mashes,  oats,  and 
hay ;  but  no  beans,  or  very  few.  Walking-exercise,  twice  a 
day,  is  absolutely  necessary  for  keeping  the  legs  clean,  and  it 
assists  materially  in  preventing  plethora. 

The  time  required  for  inuring  a  horse  to  stable  treatment, 
depends  upon  several  circumstances.  If  taken  home  in  warm 
weather,  the  innovation,  so  far  as  the  temperance  and  the 
purity  of  the  air  are  concerned,  may  be  completed  in  about 
two  weeks.  If  the  horse  is  not  very  lean,  his  skin  may  be  well 
cleaned  in  the  first  week  ;  and  to  clean  it,  he  must  have  one  or 
two  gentle  sweats,  suflBcient  to  detach  and  dissolve  the  dust, 
mud,  and  oily  matter  which  adhere  to  the  skin,  and  glue  the 
hair  together.  All  this,  or  as  much  of  it  as  possible,  must  be 
scraped  off  while  the  horse  is  warm  and  perspiring.  If  it  is 
allowed  to  get  dry  before  scraping,  he  is  just  where  he  was. 
If  the  weather  be  cold,  there  need  be  no  great  hurry  about 
cleaning  him  completely. 

The  propriety  of  giving  physic  after  grazing  has  been  often 
questioned.  In  the  stable,  its  utility  is  generally  acknow- 
ledged. In  books  it  is  sometimes  condemned  as  pernicious, 
sometimes   as  useless.     It  may  be  safely  said,  however,  that 


166  PASTURINO. 

there  are  many  cases  in  which  physic  is  very  useful ;  but  that 
as  a  general  thing,  it  is  given  too  indiscriminately,  and  befort 
it  is  wanted. 

To  a  histy  horse,  one  or  two  doses  raay  be  given  for  tiie 
purpose  of  reducing  him,  for  removing  superfluous  fat  and 
flesh.  The  piiysic  may  be  strong,  sufficiently  so  to  produce 
copious  purgation.  It  empties  the  bowels,  takes  up  the  carcass, 
and  gives  freedom  to  respiration  ;  it  promotes  absorption,  and 
expels  the  juices  which  embarrass  exertion.  Work,  sweating 
and  a  spare  diet  of  condensed  food,  will  produce  effects  with- 
out the  aid  of  physic.  But  purgation  shortens  the  time  of 
training,  and  it  saves  the  legs.  If  the  horse  must  be  rapidly 
pre[)ared  for  work,  willi  as  little  hazard  as  possible  to  his  leu's, 
he  must  have  physic.  The  first  dose  may  be  given  on  the  day 
uhen  he  comes  from  grass ;  the  others,  if  more  than  one  be 
necessary,  at  intervals  of  eight  or  ten  clear  days. 

A  lean  liorse,  fresh  from  grass,  needs  no  physic  till  he  has 
been  stabled  for  several  days,  and  perhaps  not  then.  By  the 
time  he  has  acquired  strength  sufficient  to  stand  training,  his 
bowels  are  void  of  grass,  and  his  belly  small  enough  to  allow 
freedom  of  respiration.  At  the  end  of  a  fortnight  or  three 
weeks,  the  lean  horse  ought  to  be  decidedly  lustier.  If  too 
much  so,  and  acquiring  flesh  too  rapidly,  one  dose  of  physic 
may  be  given,  active  enough  to  produce  smart  purgation,  and 
prevent  the  evils  which  arise  from  plethora.  If  he  is  not 
taking  on  flesh  so  rapidly  as  he  should,  he  may  have  two, 
perhaps  three,  mild  doses  of  physic,  just  active  enough  to 
produce  one  or  two  watery  or  semi-fluid  evacuations.  If  he 
eat  a  great  deal  without  improving  in  condition,  he  is  probably 
troubled  with  worms,  and  half  a  drachm  of  calomel  may  be 


PASTURINa.  16T 

added  to  each  dose  of  physic.  If  he  does  not  feed  well,  there 
is  probably  a  torpid  state  of  the  digestive  apparatus,  produced 
by  a  bad  or  deficient  diet.  lu  such  a  case,  mild  physic  is 
still  proper,  and,  in  addition,  the  horse  may  have  a  few  tonic 
balls  between  the  setting  of  one  dose  and  the  administration 
of  another.  Four  drachms  of  gentian,  two  of  ginger,  and  one 
of  tartar  emetic,  made  into  a  ball  with  honey,  forms  a  very 
useful  tonic.  One  of  these  may  be  given  every  day,  or  every 
second  day,  for  a  fortnight.  If  the  horse  does  not  improve 
under  these,  he  requires  the  aid  of  a  veterinary  surgeon. 

The  mode  op  grazing  farm-horses  requires  some  notice. 
Other  horses  are  sent  to  pasture,  and  with  few  exceptions,  re- 
main at  it  for  days  and  weeks  without  interruption.  Those 
employed  in  agriculture  are  pastured  in  three  different  ways. 
By  one,  the  horse  is  constantly  at  grass,  except  during  his 
hours  of  work ;  he  is  put  out  at  night,  is  brought  in  the 
next  morning,  goes  to  work  for  two  or  three  hours,  and  is 
then  returned  to  pasture  for  about  two  hours  ;  in  the  afternoon 
he  again  goes  to  work,  which  may  be  concluded  at  five  or  six 
o'clock,  and  from  that  time  till  he  is  wanted  on  the  next  morn- 
ing he  is  kept  at  grass.  By  another  mode,  the  horse  is  turned 
out  only  at  night.  During  the  day  he  is  soiled  in  his  stable 
at  his  resting  intervals.  When  work  is  over  for  the  day,  he 
is  sent  out  till  the  next  morning  By  the  third  mode,  which 
is  generally  allowed  to  be  the  best,  the  horse  is  turned  to  grass 
only  once  a  week.  He  is  pastured  from  the  time  his  work  is 
finished  on  Saturday  night  till  it  commences  again  on  Monday 
mprning. 

If  the  horses  have  any  thing  like  work,  the  first  two  modes 
are  decidedly  objectionable.     There  is  much  expenditure  of 


168  SERVICE. 

labor  in  procuring  the  food,  and  there  is  great  loss  of  time. 
It  may  cost  the  horse  four  or  five  hours  good  work  to  cut 
down  the  grass  which  he  eats.  A  man  supplied  with  a  scythe 
will  do  the  same  work  with  far  less  labor  in  a  few  minutes. 
If  there  be  nothing  else  for  the  horse  to  do,  it  is  quite  right 
to  make  him  gather  his  own  food.  But,  otherwise,  it  is  absurd 
to  make  him  exhaust  his  strength  and  time  in  doing  that  which 
a  man  can  do  so  much  more  easily  and  quickly.  Besides  this 
expenditure  of  the  horse's  time  and  strength,  the  loss  of 
manure,  and  the  damage  done  to  pasture  by  the  feet,  ought  to 
be  taken  into  consideration. 

The  third  mode  of  grazing  appears  to  be  the  least  objection- 
able. The  horses  have  no  field  labor  on  Sunday ;  if  the  pas- 
ture be  good,  the  weather  favorable,  and  the  horses  not 
fatigued,  they  are  better  at  grass  than  in  the  house. 

In  some  places  the  road-horses  are  sometimes  put  to  grass 
on  Sunday.  This  practice  has  nothing  apparently  to  recom- 
mend it.  The  weekly  work  of  these  horses  in  general  de- 
mands the  rest  which  Sunday  brings ;  and  if  they  travel  at  a 
fast  pace,  as  all  coach-horses  do  now,  they  are  apt  to  eat  so 
much  grass,  and  carry  such  a  load  in  their  bellies,  that  on 
Monday  they  are  easily  over- worked.  The  breathing  is  im- 
peded, unless  the  horses  purge,  which  few  do.  They  often 
come  from  grass  as  haggard  and  dejected  as  if  they  had  done 
twice  their  ordinary  work  the  day  before. 


SERVICE. 

A  change  of  lodging,  or  of  diet,  is  often  a  cause  of  disease. 
When  a  fresh  horse  is  procured,  it  is  well  to  know  how  he  has 
been  treated  during  the  previous  month ;  if  he  is  a  valuable 


.SERVICE.  r  169 

animal,  he  will  certainly  be  worth  this  inquiry.  Horses  that 
come  from  a  dealer  have  probably  been  standing  in  a  warm 
stable,  well-clothed,  well-groomed,  highly  fed,  and  seldom 
exercised.  They  have  fine  glossy 
coats,  are  lusty,  and  in  high- 
spirits;  but 
their  flesh  is 
soft  and  flabby. 
They  are  unfit 
for  fast  work ; 
they  are  easily 
heated  by  exer- 
tion, and  when 
the  least  warm,  seevice. 

are  very  apt  to  take  cold.  But,  wherever  the  horse  comes 
from,  or  whatever  his  condition  may  be,  changes  in  reference 
to  food,  temperature,  and  work,  must  be  effected  by  slow 
degrees.  It  is  absurd  and  always  pernicious  to  take  a  horse 
from  the  field,  and  put  him  in  a  warm  stable,  and  on  rich 
food  all  at  once ;  it  is  no  less  erroneous  to  take  him  from 
a  warm  to  a  cold  stable,  or  to  demand  exertion  to  which  he 
has  not  been  trained. 

When  the  horse's  history  cannot  be  traced,  both  his  work  and 
his  diet  should  at  first  be  moderate.  More  of  either  than  he 
has  been  accustomed  to,  will  do  more  harm  than  less  of  either. 
It  may,  however,  soon  be  ascertained  by  trying  him  whether  he 
has  been  doing  much  work;  if  fit  for  work,  he  may  be 'fed  in 
proportion.  The  temperature  of  the  stable  had  better  be 
warmer  than  colder.  If  too  warm,  the  horse  will  perspire ;  his 
coat  will  be  wet  in  different  places,  especially  in  the  morning 


ITO  SERVICE, 

when  the  stables  are  first  opened.  If  it  be  too  cold,  his  coat 
will  be  roughened,  and  become  dim,  and  the  horse  will  catch 
cold,  evidence  of  which  will  be  given  by  a  cough. 

The  work  of  some  horses  exposes  them  much  to  the  weather. 
Those  employed  in  street-coaches,  in  the  carriages  of  medical 
men,  all  those  that  have  to  stand  in  the  weather,  can  never  do 
so  with  safety  until  they  have  been  seasoned.  In  the  cold  rainy 
season,  many  are  destroyed,  and  many  more  endangered  by  in- 
judicious exposure.  Wet  weather  is  the  most  pernicious  ;  yet 
it  is  not  the  rain  alone  that  does  the  mischief.  If  the  horse  is 
kept  in  motion,  and  afterwards  perfectly  and  quickly  dried,  or 
is  kept  in  motion  till  he  is  dry,  he  suffers  no  injury.  His  coat 
may  be  bleached  till  it  is  like  a  dead  fur ;  but  the  horse  does 
not  catch  cold.  If  he  is  allowed  to  stand  at  rest  with  his  coat 
drenched  in  the  rain,  the  surface  of  the  body  rapidly  loses  its 
heat,  there  being  no  stimulus  to  the  formation  of  it;  the  blood 
circulates  slowly,  accumulates  internally,  and  oppresses  vital 
organs,  especially  the  lungs  ;  the  legs  become  excessively  cold 
and  benumbed  ;  the  horse  can  hardly  use  them,  and,  wheu  put 
in  motion,  he  strikes  one  against  the  other.  Exposure,  when  it 
deprives  the  body  of  heat  in  this  way,  is  a  fruitful  source  of  in- 
flamed lungs,  of  thoracic  influenza,  catarrh,  and  founder.  When 
the  skin  is  wet,  or  the  air  very  cold,  the  horse  should,  if  possible, 
be  kept  in  motion,  which  will  preserve  him,  however  little  he 
may  have  been  accustomed  to  exposure. 

Horses  that  have  been  kept  in  warm  stables,  and  never  out 
but  in  fair  weather,  arp  in  most  danger.  If  they  cannot  be  kept 
in  constant  motion,  they  must  be  prepared  before  they  are  ex- 
posed. If  they  commence  work  in  summer,  or  early  in  the 
autumn,  they  will  be  fully  inured  to  the  weather  before  the  worst 


SBRVICE.  Itl 

part  of  winter  arrives.  But  if  they  commence  in  winter,  they 
should  be  out  for  only  one  or  two  hours  at  a  time  ;  in  good  days 
they  may  be  out  longer,  no  one  being  able  to  give  a  precise  rule 
as  to  the  length  of  time  appropriate,  as  it  varies  with  the  con- 
dition of  the  animal,  the  weather,  and  the  work  required.  It 
should  shorten  with  the  wetness  or  coldness  of  the  weather,  and 
the  tenderness  of  the  animal.  If  he  must  run  rapidly  from  one 
place  to  another,  and  wait  perhaps  half  an  hour  at  each,  he  is 
in  more  danger  than  if  the  pace  were  slower,  and  the  time  of 
waiting  shorter;  and  if  moved  about  constantly,  or  every  ten 
minutes,  he  suffers  less  injury  than  if  he  was  standing  still.  After 
a  time  he  becomes  inured  to  exposure,  and  may  be  safely  trusted 
in  the  severest  weather. 

Repeated  and  continued  application  of  cold  to  the  surface  of 
the  body  stimulates  the  skin  to  produce  an  extra  supply  of  heat. 
The  exposure  of  two  or  three  days  is  not  sufficient  to  rouse  the 
skin  to  this  effort.  It  is  always  throwing  off  a  large  quantity 
of  heat ;  but  it  is  several  days,  and  with  many  horses  several 
weeks,  before  the  skin  can  assume  activity  sufficient  to  meet  the 
demands  of  a  cold  or  wet  atmosphere.  Ultimately,  it  becomes 
so  vigorous  that  the  application  of  cold,  whether  wet  or  dry,  is 
almost  instantly  followed  by  an  increased  production  of  heat. 
To  this,  however,  there  are  limits.  By  exposure,  gradually 
increasing  in  length  and  frequency,  the  system  may  be  able  to 
maintain  the  temperature  at  a  comfortable  warmth  for  three  or 
four  successive  hours,  even  when  the  horse  is  standing  at  rest 
in  wet  or  cold.  But  he  cannot  endure  this  beyond  a  certain 
point.  Exhaustion  and  emaciation  succeed,  in  spite  of  all  the 
food  the  horse  can  eat.  The  formation  of  so  much  heat  con- 
sumes the  nutriment  that  ought  to  produce  vigor  for  work. 


172  tSERVICE. 

Hence,  working  horses  kept  very  much  in  very  cold  stables  are 
lean  and  dull. 

It  is  chiefly  the  horses  that  have  to  stand  in  the  weather, 
which  require  preparation  for  exposure.  Bleeding,  purging, 
and  other  means,  which  debilitate  or  emaciate,  are  never  neces- 
sary in  this  process.  Hunting,  stage-coach,  and  cart-horses 
seldom  require  any  preparation  for  exposure,  as  they  are  in 
motion  from  the  time  of  leaving  the  stable  till  their  return. 
They  only  require  to  be  well  and  quickly  dried  when  wet. 

New  horses  are  very  liable  to  have  the  skin  injured  by  thq 
harness.  The  friction  of  the  saddle,  collar,  or  traces,  prO' 
duces  excoriation.  In  some  horses  this  is  altogether  unavoidr 
able,  especially  when  they  are  in  poor  condition.  Their  skin 
is  tender,  and  a  little  chafing  exposes  the  quick.  In  all 
horses  it  is  some  time  before  the  skin  thickens,  and  becomes 
sufficiently  callous  to  carry  the  harness  without  injury.  The 
time  required  to  undergo  this  change  varies  materially,  and 
cannot  be  much  shortened  by  any  means.  Attention  to  the 
harness,  however,  will  frequently  prevent  excoriation.  After 
every  journey,  the  neck  should  be  closely  examined.  If 
there  be  any  spot,  however  little  abraded,  hot  and  tender  when 
pinched,  that  part  of  the  collar  which  produced  it  should  be  cut 
out  before  the  next  journey.  The  guard,  or  safe,  is  a  useful 
article  to  prevent  galls  of  this  kind.  It  is  merely  a  thin  slip 
of  soft  leather,  covering  the  seat  of  the  collar.  It  obviates 
friction,  and  prevents  injurious  pressure  from  any  little  protuly' 
ance  or  hardness  in  the  stuffing  of  the  collar.  On  the  firsc  or 
second  journey  a  new  horse  often  comes  in  with  his  neck  some- 
what inflamed  ;  it  is  hot,  tender,  and  covered  with  pimples. 
Xa  the  stables  it  is  said  to  be  Jired,    A  solution  of  commoa 


SERVICE.  1^3" 

^ilt  in  water  is  commonly  applied,  and  it  series  to  allay  the 
(nflammation  ;  it  should  be  applied  whenever  the  collar  is  re- 
moved. Tumors,  containing  bloody  water,  frequently  rise  on 
the  neck.  They  should  be  opened  immediately,  emptied,  and 
kept  opened  for  a  few  days.  The  piece  must  be  taken  out 
of  the  collar,  and  a  safe  used.  On  a  hilly  road  the  lower  part 
of  the  collar  often  galls  the  neck  seriously,  in  spite  of  any 
alteration  in  the  stuffing.  A  broad  strap  attached  to  the 
collar,  and  passing  over  the  windpipe,  is  a  good  remedy. 
The  strap  should  be  two  inches  broad,  and  drawn  tightly 
enough  to  keep  the  collar  steady,  and  make  it  stand  nearly 
upright.  It  should  be  adjusted  before  the  head  is  put  on  the 
bearing  reins,  and  should  be  worn  till  the  neck  is  quite  sound. 
A  broad  breast-band  may  also  be  substituted  for  the  neck 
collar,  till  the  neck  and  shoulders  get  well.  A  horse  will  pull 
nearly  as  well  in  this  as  in  the  collar  and  hames.  When  the 
traces,  crupper,  or  pad,  threaten  or  produce  excoriation,  they 
must  be  kept  off  by  cushions  placed  behind,  before,  or  at  each 
side  of  the  part  injured. 

The  back  requires  nearly  as  much  care  as  the  neck.  A  new 
saddle  is  objectionable  for  a  new  horse,  particularly  when  he 
has  to  travel  far  nnder  a  heavy  rider.  A  tender  back  may  be 
hardened  by  frequent  use  of  the  saddle  and  a  light  weight. 
The  horse  may  stand  saddled  in  the  stable,  and  saddled  when 
he  goes  to  exercise.  When  the  back  is  hot,  and  the  skin  dis- 
posed to  rise  in  tumors,  the  saddle  should  remain  on  till  the 
back  becomes  cool.  Slacken  the  girths,  raise  the  saddle  for  a 
moment,  and  then  replace  it.  Its  weight  prevents  tumors ; 
excoriation  and  firing  must  be  treated  as  on  the  neck. 
Always  let  the  pommel  of  the  saddle  be  dry  before  it  is  agaia 


174  SERVICE. 

used,  and  put  it  on  half  an  hour  before  the  horse  is  to  b* 
mounted. 

Horses,  from  whom  extraordinary  exertions  are  not  de- 
manded, and  those  that  are  never  expected  or  required  to  do 
all  that  a  horse  is  capable  of  doing,  stand  in  little  need  of 
inurement  to  work,  and  it  is  seldom  that  any  is  intentionally 
given.  When  a  saddle  or  draught-horse  is  purchased,  he  is 
often  put  to  his  work  at  once,  without  any  preparation.  He 
is  treated  as  if  he  were  as  able  for  the  work  as  it  is  possible  to 
make  him.  So  long  as  the  work  is  slow  and  not  very  labori- 
ous, he  may  perform  it  well  enough ;  but  this  system  will  not 
do  for  full  work,  whether  fast  or  slow.  If  the  horse  has  been 
idle  for  a  month  or  two,  he  is  weak.  It  matters  little  that  he 
is  plump  and  in  good  spirits.  He  may  be  able  to  draw  a 
load  of  twenty  or  thirty  hundred-weight  with  ease,  and  per- 
haps to  draw  it  a  considerable  distance  ;  but  on  the  next  day 
he  is  sore  all  over,  stiff,  feeble,  dull,  almost  unable  to  carry 
his  own  weight.  If  the  same  work  be  exacted  day  after  day, 
the  horse  loses  flesh,  and  at  last  becomes  unfit  for  any  work. 
But  if  the  work  be  less  severe  at  first,  and  gradually  increases 
from  week  to  week,  the  horse  at  last  acquires  strength  and 
endurance  greater,  perhaps,  than  he  ever  before  possessed.  He 
is  then  able  to  do  with  ease  as  much  in  a  week  as  would  have 
completely  knocked  him  up  at  the  beginning.  For  slow, 
moderate  work,  this  is  all  the  preparation  which  the  horse 
needs.  At  first,  let  it  be  very  gentle  ;  and  the  weight  he  is  to 
carry  or  draw,  and  the  distance  he  is  to  travel,  may  be  in- 
creased as  he  is  found  able  to  bear  it.  In  preparing  the  horse 
for  hunting,  racing,  or  coaching,  the  treatment  must  be  some- 
what different. 


SHOEING. 


175 


SHOEING. 

There  is  hardly  any  other  class  of  mechanics  who  combine 
so  much  ignorance  of  the  principles  on  which  their  art  is 
founded,  with  so  much  conceit  of  their  knowledge,  as  do  or- 
dinary horse-shoers ;  and  it  should  be  one  of  the  first  duties 
of  the  horse-owner  to  inform  himself  of  the  nature  and  struc- 
ture of  the  horse's  foot,  the  reason  why  shoeing  is  necessary  at 
all,  what  parts  of  the  foot  it  protects,  what  is  the  best  form 
of  shoe  to  effect  the  purpose,  how  it  may  be  best  fastened  to 
the  foot,  and  how  often  it  should  be  removed. 

To  illustrate  these  important  points,  cuts  are  here  intro- 
duced, showing  the  construction  of  the  horse's  foot. 

Our  first  one  shows  the  ground  surface  of  the  hoof  prepared 
for  receiving  a  shoe  ;  and  marks  very  distinctly  the  difference 
between  the  curvature  of  the  outer  and  inner  quarters. 

The  hoof  is  divided  into 
horny  crust  or  wall,  sole,  and 
■  frog.  The  horny  crust  is  se- 
creted by  the  numerous  blood- 
j  2  vessels  of  that  soft  protruding 
band  which  encircles  the  upper 
edge  of  the  hoof,  immediately 
beneath  the  termination  of  the 
hair  ;  and  is  divided  into  toe, 
quarters,  heels,  and  bars.  Its 
texture  is  insensible,  but  elas- 


i  i 

OBorifD  strnPACE  or  the  hoof. 


c.  The  toe— rasped  away  to  receive  the  turned-up  shoe,  a  1.  The  inner  toe.  a  2. 
The  OMfcr  toe.  &1.  The  inwer  quarter.  6  2.  The  owfer  quarter,  c  1.  The  inner  heel. 
c  2.  The  outer  heel.  d.  d.  d.  The  sole.  e.  e.  The  crust  or  wall  of  the  hoof.  /./• 
The  bars.  g.  g.  The  commissures,  h.  k.  I.  The  frog.  h.  The  part  immediately  under 
the  navicular  joint,  ft.  The  oval  cleft  of  the  frog.  I  The  elevated  boundary  of  th» 
cleft.    1. 1.  The  bulbt  of  the  heels. 


1T6 


SHOEING. 


tic  throughout  its  whole  extent ;  and,  yielding  to  the  weight  of 
the  horse,  allows  the  horny  sole  to  descend,  whereby  much  in- 
convenient concussion  of  the  internal  parts  of  the  foot  is  avoided. 
But  if  a  large  portion  of  the  circumference  of  the  foot  is  fettered 
by  iron  and  nails,  it  is  plain  that  that  portion,  at  least,  cannot 
expand  as  before ;  and  the  beautiful  and  efficient  apparatus  for 
effecting  this  necessary  elasticity,  being  no  longer  allowed  to 
act  by  reason  of  these  restraints,  becomes  altered  in  structure ; 
and  the  continued  operation  of  the  same  causes,  in  the  end, 
circumscribes  the  elasticity  to  those  parts  alone  where  no  nails 
have  been  driven ;  giving  rise  to  a  train  of  consequences  de- 
structive to  the  soundness  of  the  foot,  and  fatal  to  the  usefulness 
of  the  horse. 

The  toe  of  the  fore  foot  is  the  thickest  and  strongest  portion 
of  the  hoof,  and  is  in  consequence  less  expansive  than  any  othei* 

part,  and  there^ 
fore  better  calcu- 
lated to  resist  the 
effects  of  the  nails 
and  the  shoe.  The 
thickness  of  the 
horn  gradually 
diminishes  to- 
ward the  quarters 
and  heels,  particu- 

t.  Is.a  broad  flat  mass  of  born,  projecting  upward  into  tbe  middle  of  the  elastic  cush- 
,  ion,  and  called  "tbe  frog  stay,"  b,  b.  Are  two  borny  projections  rising  into  tbe 
cavity  of  the  hoof  formed  by  tbe  commissures,  c.  c.  Are  portions  of  tbe  same  projec- 
tions, and  are  situated  just  under  the  two  ends  of  the  navicular  bone,  and  mark  tb« 
point  on  either  side  where  diminution  in  the-natural  elasticity  of  the  fatty  frog  would 
be  felt  with  the  greatest  severity  by  the  navicular  joint  ;  for  under  the  most  favorable 
circumstances,  the  quantity  of  cushion  between  these  points  and  the  navicular  joint 
cannot  be  very  large  ;  and  hence  the  importance  of  our  doing  all  we  cau  to  preserve. 
Us  elasticity  as  long  as  possible. 


THE   HOOP   OP   THE   HORSE. 


SHOEINO. 


17t 


larly  on  the  inner  side  of  the  foot,  whereby  the  power  of  yield- 
ing and  expanding  to  the  weight  of  the  horse  is  proportionably 
increased,  clearly  indicating  that  those  parts  cannot  be  nailed 
to  an  unyielding  bar  of  iron,  without  a  most  mischievous  inter- 
ference with  the  natural  functions  of  the  foot.  In  the  hind  foot, 
greater  thickness  of  horn  will  be  found  at  the  quarters  and  heels, 
than  in  the  fore  foot.  This  difference  in  the  thickness  of  horn 
is  beautifully  adapted  to  the  inequality  of  the  weight  which 
each  has  to  sustain,  the  force  with  which  it  is  applied,  and  the 
portions  of  the  hoof  upon  which  it  falls. 

The  toe  of  the  fore  foot  encounters  the  combined  force  and 
weight  of  the  fore  hand  and  body,  and  consequently  in  a  state 
of  nature  is  exposed  to  considerable  wear  and  tear,  and  calls 
for  greater  strength  and  substance  of  horn  than  is  needed  by 
any  portion  of  the  hind  foot,  where  the  duty  of  supporting  tho 
hinder  parts  alone  is  distributed  on  the  quarters  and  heels  of 
both  sides  of  the  foot. 

The  bars  are 
continuations  of 
the  wall,  reflected 
at  the  heel  towards 
the  centre  of  the 
foot,  where  they 
meet  in  a  point, 
leaving  a  triangu- 
lar space  between 
A  SECTION  OF  THE  FOOT.  thcm  for  thc  frog. 

I.  The  coronet  bone.  2.  The  coffia  bone.  3.  The  navicular  bone.  a.  The  wall.  b. 
The  sole.  c.  The  cleft  of  the  frog.  d.  d.  The  frog.  e.  e.  The  fatty  frog,  or  elastic 
cushion.  /.  The  sensitive  sole.  g.  The  sensitive  frog.  h.  h.  h.  Tendons  of  the  mus- 
cles which  bend  the  foot.  i.  Part  of  the  pastern  bone.  fe.  k.  Tendons  of  the  inascles 
Which  extend  the  foot.  t.  The  coffin  joint,  m.  The  navicular  joint,  n.  The  coronary 
Bubstauce.     o.  The  sensible  laminae,  or  covering  of  the  coffia  boae. 

12 


178  SHOEING. 

The  whole  inner  surface  of  the  horny  crust,  from  the  centre 
of  the  toe  to  the  point  where  the  bars  meet,  is  everywhere  lined 
with  innumerable  narrow,  thin,  and  projecting  horny  plates, 
which  extend  in  a  slanting  direction  from  the  upper  edge  of  the 
wall  to  the  line  of  junction  between  it  and  the  sole,  and  possess 
great  elasticity.  These  projecting  plates  are  the  means  of 
greatly  extending  the  surface  of  attachment  of  the  hoof  to  the 
coffin  bone,  which  is  likewise  covered  by  a  similar  arrangement 
of  projecting  plates,  but  of  a  highly  vascular  and  sensitive  cha- 
racter ;  and  these,  dovetailing  with  the  horny  projections 
above  named,  constitute  a  union  combining  strength  and  elas- 
ticity in  a  wonderful  degree. 

The  horny  sole  covers  the  whole  interior  surface  of  the  foot 
excepting  the  frog.  In  a  well-formed  foot  it  presents  an  arched 
appearance,  and  possesses  considerable  elasticity,  by  virtue  of 
which  it  ascends  and  descends,  as  the  weight  above  is  either 
tsuddenly  removed  from  it,  or  forcibly  applied  to  it.  This  de- 
scending property  of  the  sole  calls  for  one  especial  consideration 
in  directing  the  form  of  the  shoe ;  for,  if  the  shoe  be  so  formed 
that  the  horny  sole  rests  upon  it,  it  cannot  descend  lower;  and 
the  sensitive  sole  above,  becoming  squeezed  between  the  edges 
of  the  coffin  bone  and  the  horn,  produces  inflammation,  and 
perhaps  abscess.  The  effect  of  this  squeezing  of  the  sensitive 
sole  is  most  commonly  witnessed  at  the  angle  of  the  inner  heel, 
where  the  descending  heel  of  the  coffin  bone,  forcibly  pressing 
the  vascular  sole  upon  the  horny  sole,  contuses  a  small  blood- 
vessel, and  produces  what  is  called  a  corn,  but  which  is,  in  fact, 
a  bruise. 

The  horny  frog  occupies  the  greater  part  of  the  triangular 
Bpace  between  the  bars,  and  extends  from  the  hindermost  part 


SHOEING.  1^9 

of  the  foot  to  the  centre  of  the  sole,  jnst  over  the  point  where 
the  bars  meet,  but  is  united  to  iheni  only  at  tlR'ir  upjier  edge  ; 
the  sides  remain  unattached  and  separate,  and  form  the  channel 
called  tlie  commissures. 

If  we  carefully  observe  the  form  and  size  in  the  frog  in  the 
foot  of  a  colt  of  from  four  to  five  years  old,  at  its  first  shoeing, 
and  then  note  the  changes  whicli  it  undergoes  as  the  shoeings 
are  repeated,  we  shall  soon  be  convinced  that  a  visible  departure 
from  a  state  of  health  and  nature  is  taking  place.  At  first  it 
will  be  found  large  and  full,  with  considerable  elasticity ;  the 
cleft  oval  in  form,  open,  and  expanding,  with  a  continuous, 
well-defined,  and  somewhat  elevated  boundary  ;  the  bulbs  at  the 
lieels  fully  developed,  plump,  and  rounded  ;  and  the  whole  mass 
occupying  about  one-sixth  of  the  circumference  of  the  foot.  By 
degrees  the  fulness  and  elasticity  will  be  observed  to  have 
diminished ;  the  bulb  at  the  heels  will  shrink,  and  lose  their 
plumpness;  the  cleft  will  become  narrower,  its  oval  form  disap- 
pear, the  back  part  of  its  boundary  give  way,  and  it  will  dwindle 
into  a  narrow  crack,  extended  back  between  the  wasted,  or 
perhaps  obliterated,  bulbs,  presenting  only  the  miserable  remains 
of  a  frog,  such  as  may  be  seen  in  the  feet  of  most  horses  long 
accustomed  to  be  shod. 

The  bones  proper  to  the  foot  are  three  in  number, — viz.,  the 
coffin  bone,  the  navicular  bone,  and  part  of  the  coronet  bone ; 
they  are  contained  within  the  hoof,  and  combine  to  form  the 
coffin  joint ;  but  the  smallest  of  them,  the  navicular  bone,  is  of 
far  more  importance  as  connected  with  the  subject  of  shoeing, 
than  either  of  the  others  ;  for  upon  the  healthy  condition  of  this 
bone,  and  the  joint  formed  between  it  and  the  tendon,  which 
passes  under  it  to  the  coffin  bone,  and  is  called  the  navicular 
joint,  mainly  depends  the  usefulness  of  the  horse  to  man. 


180  sHOEiNa: 

This  small  bone,  which  in  a  horse  sixteen  hands  high  mea- 
sures only  two  and  a  quarter  inches  in  its  longest  diameter, 
tliree-fourths  of  an  inch  at  the  widest  part  of  its  shorter  diameter, 
and  half  an  inch  in  thickness  in  the  centre,  its  thickest  part,  has 
the  upper  and  under  surfaces  and  part  of  one  of  the  sides  over- 
laid with  a  thin  coating  of  gristle,  and  covered  by  a  delicate 
secreting  membrane,  very  liable  upon  the  slightest  injury  to 
become  inflamed  ;  it  is  so  placed  in  the  foot  as  to  be  continually 
exposed  to  danger,  being  situated  across  the  hoof,  behind  the 
coffin  bone,  and  immediately  under  the  coronet  bone  ;  whereby 
it  is  compelled  to  receive  nearly  the  whole  weight  of  the  horse 
each  time  that  the  opposite  foot  is  raised  from  the  ground. 

The  coffin  bone  consists  of  a  body  and  wings;  and  is  fitted 
into  the  hoof,  which  it  closely  resembles  in  form.  Its  texture 
is  particularly  light  and  spongy,  arising  from  the  quantity  of 
canals  or  tubes  that  traverse  its  substance  in  every  direction, 
affording  to  numerous  blood-vessels  and  nerves  a  safe  passage 
to  the  sensitive  and  vascular  parts  surrounding  it;  while  the 
unyielding  nature  of  the  bone  effectually  protects  them  from 
compression  or  injury,  under  every  variety  of  movement  of  the 
horse. 

In  an  unshod  foot,  the  front  and  sides  of  the  coffin  bone  are 
deeply  furrowed  and  roughened,  to  secure  the  firmer  attachment 
of  the  vascular  membranous  structure,  by  which  the  bone  is 
clothed  ;  but  in  the  bone  of  a  foot  that  has  been  frequently  shod, 
the  appearance  is  greatly  changed,  the  furrows  and  roughness 
giving  place  to  a  comparatively  smooth  surface.  This  change 
is  probably  produced  by  the  shoe  limiting,  if  not  destroying,  the 
expansive  power  of  that  part  of  the  horn  to  which  it  is  nailed : 
whereby  a  change  of  structure  in  the  membrane  itself,  as  ^*  ,ii  as 


BHOEINQ,  181 

absorption  of  the  attaching  portions  of  the  bone,  is  induced  ;  for 
it  is  an  invariable  hiw  of  the  animal  economy  not  to  continue 
to  unemployed  structures  the  same  measure  of  efficient  repara- 
tion that  is  extended  to  parts  constantly  engaged  in  performing 
their  allotted  tasks.  The  shoe  restricts  or  prevents  expansion ; 
while  nature,  as  the  secret  influence  is  called,  immediately  sets 
to  work  to  simplify  the  apparatus  for  producing  the  expansion, 
which  art  has  thus  rendered  impracticable,  and  substitutes  for 
it  a  new  structure,  less  finely  organized,  but  admirably  suited 
to  the  altered  condition  of  the  parts. 

The  wings  extend  from  the  body  of  the  bone  directly  back- 
w^ard,  and  support  the  lateral  cartilage  of  the  foot. 

The  sensitive  sole,  or,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  the  fleshy  sole, 
is  about  the  eighth  of  an  inch  thick,  and  is  almost  entirely  made 
up  of  blood-vessels  and  nerves ;  it  is  one  of  the  most  vascular 
and  sensitive  parts  of  the  body,  and  is  attached  to  the  lower 
edge  of  the  sensitive  covering  of  the  coffin  ^one,  to  the  bars, 
and  point  of  the  frog,  and  also  with  great  firmness  to  the  whole 
of  the  arched  under-surface  of  the  coffin  bone. 

The  sensitive  frog  includes  not  only  the  part  corresponding 
to  the  sensitive  sole,  but  also  the  peculiar  spongy  elastic  sub- 
stance which  intervenes  between  it  and  the  navicular  joint,  and 
fills  the  space  between  the  cartilages.  The  proper  sensitive 
frog  is  thicker,  and  less  finely  organized,  than  the  sensitive  sole, 
possessing  fewer  blood-vessels  and  nerves. 

It  is  a  common,  but  very  erroneous,  opinion,  that  the  shape 
of  the  perfect  foot  is  circular,  or  very  nearly  so.  This  induces 
most  smiths  to  endeavor  to  reduce  the  foot  to  that  shape  as  soon 
as  possible.  There  are  very  few  things  in  nature  so  little  varied 
as  the  form  of  the  ground  surface  of  horses'  feet  j  for  whether  the 


182  SHOEING. 

hoof  be  high-heeled  and  upright,  or  low-heeled  and  flat,  large  or 
small,  broad  or  narrow,  the  identical  form  of  ground-surface  is 
maintained  in  each,  so  long  as  it  is  left  entirely  to  nature^s 
guidance.  The  outer  quarter,  back  to  the  heel,  is  curved  con- 
siderably and  abruptly  outward,  while  the  inner  quarter  is 
carried  back  in  a  gradual  and  easy  curve.  The  advantage  of 
this  form  is  so  obvious,  that  it  is  strange  that  any  interference 
should  ever  be  attempted  with  it.  The  enlarged  outer  quarter 
extends  the  base,  and  increases  the  hold  of  the  foot  upon  the 
ground;  while  the  straighter  inner  quarter  lessens  the  risk  of 
striking  the  foot  against  the  opposite  leg. 

The  inclination  of  the  front  of  the  horny  crust  of  the  foot 
should  be  at  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees.  If  the  foot 
is  much  steeper  than  this,  it  is  very  liable  to  contract ;  while, 
if  it  is  much  more  slanting,  it  constitutes  what  is  called 
the  "  oyster  shell"  foot,  in  which  there  is  an  undue  flatness  of 
the  sole,  and  a  tendency  to  pumiced  feet. 

Before  removing  the  old  shoes,  care  should  be  taken  to 
raise  all  the  clinches  of  the  nails  to  prevent  injury  to  the 
crust,  and  to  avoid  giving  pain  to  the  horse ;  even  after 
clinches  are  raised,  if  the  shoes  cannot  be  easily  drawn  off, 
those  nails  which  seem  to  hold  most  firmly  should  be  punched, 
or  drawn  out,  that  the  shoe  may  be  removed  without  injury  to 
the  hoof,  and  without  weakening  the  nail-hold  for  the  new 
shoeing. 

The  shoe  being  removed,  the  edge  of  the  crust  should  be 
well  rasped  to  remove  so  much  of  the  horn  as  would  have  Deeu 
worn  away  by  the  contact  with  the  ground,  had  it  been  un- 
shod. In  no  case  should  the  rasp  be  used  on  the  surface  of 
the  hoof,  except  to  make  the  necessary  depressions  for  the 


fiHOEING.  18S 

clinches,  after  the  new  shoe  has  been  put  on,  and  to  shape  the 
hoof  below  the  line  of  the  clinches  of  the  nails.  The  hoof, 
above  this  line,  will  inevitably  be  injured  by  such  treatment, 
which  is  one  of  the  most  fruitful  sources  of  brittleness  of  the 
horn,  which  often  results  in  "sand-crack." 

The  operation  of  paring  out  the  horse's  foot  is  a  matter  re- 
quiring both  skill  and  judgment,  and  is,  moreover,  a  work  of 
some  labor,  when  properly  performed.  It  will  be  found  that 
the  operator  errs  much  oftener  by  removing  too  Utile  than 
too  much ;  at  least  it  is  so  with  the  parts  which  ought  to  be 
removed,  which  are  almost  as  hard  and  unyielding  as  flint,  and 
in  their  most  favorable  state,  require  considerable  exertion  to 
cut  through. 

No  general  rule  can  be  given  applicable  to  the  paring  out 
of  the  feet  of  all  horses,  or  even  of  the  feet  of  the  same  horse 
at  all  times.  It  would  be  evidently  unwise,  for  example,  to 
pare  the  sole  as  thin  in  a  hot,  dry,  season,  when  the  roads  are 
broken  up,  and  strewed  with  loose  stones,  as  would  be  proper 
in  a  moderately  wet  one,  when  the  roads  are  well  bound  and 
even  ;  for,  in  the  case  first  named,  the  sole  is  in  constant  danger 
of  being  bruised  by  violent  contact  with  loose  stones,  and 
therefore,  needs  a  thicker  layer  of  horn  for  its  protection ; 
while  the  latter  case  offers  the  most  favorable  surface  that  the 
greater  part  of  our  horses  ever  have  to  travel  upon,  advantage 
of  which  should  be  taken  for  a  thorough  paring  out  of  the 
sole,  in  order  that  the  internal  parts  of  the  foot  may  derive  the 
full  benefit  accruing  from  an  elastic  and  descending  sole ;  a 
condition  of  things  very  essential  to  the  due  perrbrmance  of 
their  separate  functions.  To  take  another  illustration  :  horn 
grows  very  freely,  especially  toward  the   toe   in  horses  with 


184  SHOEINa 

upright  feet  and  high  heels ;  and  such  are  always  benefited  by 
having  the  toe  shortened,  the  heels  lowered,  and  the  sole  well 
pared  out;  whereas  in  horses  with  flat  feet  and  low  heels, 
horn  grows  sparingly,  and  the  toe  of  such  feet  being  always 
weak,  admits  of  very  little  shortening.  Such  heels  being 
already  too  low,  they  should  scarcely  be  touched  with  the 
rasp ;  and  the  sole  presents  such  a  small  quantity  of  dead 
born,  that  the  knife  should  be  used  with  great  discretion. 

The  corners  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  crust  and  bars 
should  be  well  pared  out,  particularly  on  the  inside ;  for  this 
is  the  common  seat  of  corn,  and  any  accumulation  of  horn  in 
this  situation  must  increase  the  risk  of  bruising  the  sensitive 
sole  between  the  inner  part  or  heel  of  the  coffin  bone  and  the 
horny  sole.  Little,  if  anything,  is  gained  by  allowing  the 
bars  to  project  beyond  the  surface  of  the  sole ;  the  power  of 
resisting  contraction  cannot  possibly  be  increased  by  this 
arrangement,  and  the  projecting  rim  is  left  exposed  to  the 
danger  of  being  broken  and  bruised  by  contact  with  stones 
and  other  hard  substances  ;  and  the  method  is  further  attended 
with  the  disadvantages  of  making  the  cleaning  out  of  these 
corners  a  work  of  considerable  ingenuity  with  so  unwieldly  an 
instrument  as  a  common  drawing-knife.  It  is  much  preferable 
to  pare  them  down  to  a  level  with  the  sole,  or  very  nearly  so ; 
avoiding,  however,  every  approach  to  what  is  styled  '  opening 
out  the  heels,"  a  most  reprehensible  practice,  which  means 
catting  away  the  sides  of  the  bars,  so  as  to  show  an  apparent 
increase  of  width  between  the  heels,  which  may  for  the  time 
deceive  the  eye,  but  is  in  reality  a  mere  deception,  purchased 
at  the  expense  of  impaired  powers  of  resistance  in  the  bars 
and  ultimate  contraction  of  the  feet.     It  is  palpable  that  the 


SHOEING,  .IS-S 

removal  of  any  portion  from  the  sides  of  the  bars  must  diminish 
their  substance,  and  render  them  weaker,  and  consequently 
less  able  to  resist  contraction. 

The  frog  should  never  be  cut  or  pared,  except  in  very  rare 
cases  of  horses  with  unusually  fast-growing  frogs.  The  first 
stroke  of  the  knife  removes  the  thin  hornj  covering  altogether, 
and  lays  bare  an  under  surface,  totally  unfitted,  from  its  moist, 
soft  texture,  for  exposure  either  to  the  hard  ground  or  the 
action  of  the  air,  in  consequence  of  which  exposure  it  soon 
becomes  dry  and  shrinks ;  then  follow  cracks,  the  edge  of 
which  turning  outward  forms  rags ;  these  rags  are  removed 
by  the  smith  at  the  next  shoeing,  by  which  means  another 
similar  surface  is  exposed,  and  another  foundation  laid  for 
other  rags ;  and  this  process  continues  until  finally  the  pro- 
truding, plump,  elastic  cushion,  interposed  by  nature  between 
the  navicular  joint  and  the  ground,  and  so  essential  to  its 
preservation  from  injury,  is  converted  by  this  senseless  inter- 
ference into  the  dry,  shrunk,  unyielding  apology  for  a  frog,  to 
be  seen  in  the  foot  of  almost  every  horse  that  has  been  regu- 
larly shod  for  a  few  years.  The  frog  is  provided  within  itself 
with  two  very  efficient  modes  of  throwing  ofi"  any  superfluous 
horn  with  which  it  may  be  troubled,  and  it  is  very  unwise  in 
man  to  interfere  with  them.  The  first  and  most  common  of 
these  modes  is  the  separation  from  the  surface  of  the  frog  of 
small,  bran-like  scales,  which  becoming  dry,  fall  off  in  a  kind, 
of  whitish  scurf,  not  unlike  the  dust  that  adheres  to  Turkey 
figs ;  the  other,  which  is  upon  a  large  scale,  and  of  rarer  oc- 
currence, is  sometimes  called  "casting  the  frog."  A  thick 
layer  of  frog  separates  itself  in  a  body,  and  shells  off  as  deep 
as  ft  common   paring  with  a  knife  j   but  this  very  important 


1^6  SHOEING. 

difference  is  to  be  noted  between  the  two  operations — that 
nature  never  removes  the  horny  covering  until  she  has  pro- 
vided another  horny  covering  beneath,  so  that  although  a 
large  portion  of  the  frog  may  have  been  removed,  there  still 
remains  behind  a  perfect  frog,  smaller,  it  is  true,  but  covered 
with  horn,  and  in  evepy  way  fitted  to  sustain  exposure  ;  while 
the  knife,  on  the  contrary,  removes  the  horny  covering,  but 
is  unable  to  substitute  any  other  in  its  stead.  The  frog  should, 
therefore,  be  left  to  itself;  nature  will  remove  the  superfluous 
horn,  and  the  rags  do  no  harm,  since,  if  they  are  unmolested, 
they  will  soon  wholly  disappear. 

The  shoe  should  possess  these  general  features :  first,  it  should 
be,  for  ordinary  work,  rather  heavy,  in  order  that  it  may  not 
be  bent  by  contact  with  hard,  uneven  roads ;  second,  it  should 
be  wide  in  the  web,  and  of  equal  thickness  and  width  from  the 
toe  to  the  heel,  that  it  may  as  much  as  possible  protect  the 
sole,  without  altering  the  natural  position  of  the  foot ;  third,  it 
should  be  well  drawn  in  at  the  heels,  that  it  may  rest  on  the 
bars,  and  extend  to  the  outer  edge  of  the  crust  on  the  outside, 
and  reach  beyond  the  bar  nearly  to  the  frog,  so  that  there  may 
be  no  danger  of  its  pressing  on  ths  "corn-place,"  or  angles 
between  the  bar  and  the  crust ;  anc  fourth,  it  should  in  no 
part  extend  beyond  the  outer  edge  of  the  crust,  lest  it 
strike  against  the  opposite  leg  when  the  horse  is  travel- 
ing, or  be  stepped  on  by  another  horse,  or  be  drawn  off  by  a 
heavy  soil. 

Such  a  shoe,  and  its  position  on  the  foot,  is  shown  in  the 
cut  opposite. 

The  shoe  should  be  made  as  nearly  of  this  form  as  the 
Bbape  of  the  foot  will  allow ;  but  it  is  always  to  be  borne  ia 


BHOEINQ. 


m 


mind,  that  the  shoe  is  intended  for  the  foot,  and  not  the 
foot  for  the  shoe,  and  that  it  is  therefore  peculiarly  proper 
to  make  the  shoe  to  fit  the 
natural  form  of  the  foot,  in- 
stead, as  is  too  often  the  case, 
of  paring,  burning,  and  rasp- 
ing the  foot  until  it  fits  the 
shoe,  which  is  made  accord- 
ing to  the  smith's  notion  of 
what  the  form  of  the  horse's 
foot  should  be.  No  amount 
of  paring  can  bring  the  foot 
of  a  horse  to  an  unnatural 
figure,  and  also  leave  it 
sound  and  safe  for  work  and  use. 


THE  POSITION  OF  THE  6H«E. 


This  cut  represents  the  foot  with  the  shoe  rendered  transparent,  showing  what  parts  of 
the  foot  are  protected  and  covered  by  bringing  in  the  heels  of  the  shoes,  a,  a,  a,  the 
crust,  with  the  shoe  closely  fitted  all  around,  b,  b,  the  bars,  protected  by  the  shoe, 
c,  c,  the  heels,  supported  by  the  shoe,  d,  the  situation  of  corns  protected  from  injury. 

The  truth  really  is,  that  the  shape  of  the  shoe  cannot  by 
possibility  influence  the  shape  of  the  foot ;  for  the  foot  being 
elastic,  it  expands  to  the  weight  of  the  horse  in  precisely  the 
same  degree,  whether  it  is  resting  upon  the  most  open  or  the 
most  contracted  shoe.  It  is  the  situation  of  the  nails,  and  not 
the  shape  of  tlie  shoe,  that  determines  the  form  of  the  foot. 
If  the  nails  be  placed  in  the  outside  quarter  and  toe,  leaving 
the  heels  and  quarters  on  the  inside,  which  are  the  most  ex- 
pansive portions,  free,  no  shape  which  we  can  give  to  the 
shoe  can  of  itself  change  the  form  of  the  foot.  It  must  not, 
however,  be  inferred  from  this,  that  the  shape  of  the  shoe  is 
therefore  of  no  importance ;  quite  the  contrary  being  the  case, 


188  SHOEING. 

as  has  been  already  shown.  As  the  shape  of  the  foot  is  in  no 
degree  changed  by  the  form  of  shoe,  that  form  should  mani- 
festly be  adopted  which  produces  the  greatest  number  of  ad- 
vantages with  the  fewest  disadvantages. 

A  small  clip  at  the  point  of  the  toe  is  very  desirable,  as 
preventing  displacement  of  the  shoe  backwards  ;  it  need  not 
be  driven  up  hard,  as  it  is  simply  required  as  a  check  or  stay. 
The  shoe  should  be  sufBciently  long  to  fully  support  the  angles 
at  the  heels,  and  not  so  short,  as  is  too  often  the  case,  that  a 
little  wear  imbeds  the  edge  of  it  in  the  horn  at  these  parts. 
The  foot  surface  of  the  shoe  should  always  have  a  good  flat 
even  space  left  all  around  for  the  crust  to  bear  upon ;  for  it 
must  be  remembered,  that  the  crust  sustains  the  whole  weight 
of  the  horse,  and  should  therefore  have  a  perfectly  even  bean 
ing  everywhere  around  the  shoe.  In  this  space  the  nail-holes 
should  be  punched  ;  and  not,  as  is  too  generally  the  case, 
partly  in  it,  and  partly  in  the  seating.  In  what  is  technically 
called  "back-holing  the  shoe,"  which  means  completing  the 
openings  of  nail-holes  on  the  foot  surface,  great  care  should  be 
taken  to  give  them  an  outward  direction,  so  as  to  allow  the 
points  of  the  nails  to  be  brought  out  low  down  in  the  crust. 
The  remainder  of  the  foot  surface  should  be  carefully  seated 
out  particularly  around  the  elevated  toe,  where  it  might  other- 
wise press  inconveniently  upon  the  sole,  and  the  seating  should 
be  carried  on  fairly  to  the  point  where  the  crust  and  bars 
meet,  in  order  that  there  may  be  no  pressure  in  the  seat  of 
corns ;  the  chance  of  pressure  in  this  situation  will  be  still  fur- 
ther  diminished  by  beveling  off  the  inner  edge  of  the  heels  with 
a  rasp. 

The  ground  surface  should  be  perfectly  flat,  with  a  groove 


SHOEING.         '"  '~  18t 

runninj^  round  the  outer  edge,  just  under  the  plain  surface,  upon 
which  the  crust  bears.  The  principal  use  of  this  groove  is  to 
receive  the  heads  of  the  nails  that  secure  the  shoe,  and  prevent 
their  bending  or  breaking  off;  it  is  further  useful  in  increasing 
the  hold  of  the  shoe  upon  the  ground,  and  should  be  carried 
back  to  the  heels. 

In  fitting  the  shoe  on  the  foot,  it  should  never  while  red-hot 
be  burned  into  its  place,  as  this  would  so  heat  the  sensitive  sole 
as  to  produce  a  serious  derangement  of  its  parts ;  but  it  may 
with  safety  be  touched  lightly  to  the  foot,  that  by  a  slight 
burning  it  may  indicate  those  parts  where  the  foot  needs  paring; 
indeed,  it  is  necessary  to  pursue  this  course  in  order  to  make 
the  shoe  so  exactly  fit  the  foot  that  there  will  be  no  danger  of 
its  moving  sufficiently  to  loosen  the  hold  of  the  nails.  The  shoe 
should  be  made  with  steel  in  front,  this  being  sloped  backwards 
to  a  line  running  at  right  angles  with  the  upper  slope  of  the 
hoof.  Old  shoes  being  always  worn  to  about  this  form,  new 
ones  should  be  so  made,  and  the  steel  will  prevent  their  being 
unduly  worn. 

The  shoe  having  been  so  fitted  that  the  foot  exactly  touches 
it  in  every  part,  the  next  step  is  to  nail  it  fast  to  the  hoof. 
Upon  the  number  and  situation  of  the  nails  which  secure  it 
depends  the  amount  of  disturbance  that  the  natural  functions 
of  the  foot  are  destined  to  sustain  from  the  shoe.  If  the  nails 
are  numerous,  and  placed  back  in  the  quarters  and  heels,  no 
form  of  shoe,  however  perfect,  can  save  the  foot  from  contrac- 
tion and  navicular  disease.  If,  on  the  contrary,  they  are  few, 
and  placed  in  the  outside  quarter  and  toe,  leaving  the  inside 
quarter  and  heels  free  to  expand,  no  form  of  shoe  is  so  bad  that 
it  can,  from  defective  form  alone,  produce  contraction  of  th^ 
foot. 


190  SHOEING. 

Yarious  experiments,  which  have  been  made  for  the  purpose 
of  ascertaining  how  few  nails  are  absolutely  necessary  under 
ordinary  circumstances  for  retaining  a  slioe  securely  in  its  place, 
have  satisfactorily  established  that  five  nails  are  amply  sufficient 
for  the  fore-shoes  and  seven  for  the  hind.  The  nails  should  not 
be  driven  high  up  in  the  crust,  but  brought  out  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible; they  should  also  be  very  lightly  driven  up  before  the 
clinchers  are  turned  down,  and  not,  as  is  generally  the  case, 
forced  up  with  all  the  power  which  the  smith  can  bring  to  bear 
upon  them  with  his  hammer.  The  clinches  should  not  be 
rasped  away  too  fine,  but  turned  down  broad  and  firm.  The 
practice  of  rasping  the  whole  surface  of  the  hoof  after  the 
clinches  have  been  turned  down,  should  never  be  allowed  ;  it 
destroys  the  covering  provided  by  nature  as  a  protection  against 
the  too  rapid  evaporation  of  the  moisture  of  the  hoof,  and 
causes  the  horn  to  become  dry  and  brittle. 

The  fear,  very  commonly  entertained,  that  a  shoe  will  be  cast 
almost  at  every  step,  unless  it  is  held  to  the  foot  by  eight  or 
nine  nails  driven  high  up  into  the  crust,  is  utterly  groundless, 
as  both  theory  and  practice  concur  in  asserting.  If  the  pre- 
sence of  a  nail  in  the  crust  were  a  matter  of  no  moment,  and 
two  or  three  more  than  are  necessary  were  merely  useless,  no 
great  reason  would  exist  for  condemning  the  common  practice 
of  using  too  many  nails  ;  but  it  is  far  otherwise  ; — the  nails 
separate  the  fibres  of  the  horn,  which  never  by  any  chance  be- 
come united  again,  but  continue  apart  and  unclosed,  until  by 
degrees  they  grow  down  with  the  rest  of  the  hoof,  and  are 
finally,  after  repeated  shoeings,  removed  by  the  knife. 

If  the  clinches  chance  to  rise,  they  must  be  at  once  replaced,. 
as  such  rising  imparts  to  the  nails  a  freedom  of  motion  which 


f  HOEING.  191 

is  certain  to  enlarge  the  size  of  the  holes ;  and  this  mischief  is 
often  increased  by  the  violent  wrenching  from  side  to  side  which 
the  shoe  undergoes  in  the  process  of  removal  by  the  smith.  As 
these  holes  cannot  possibly  grow  down  and  be  removed  under 
three  shoeings,  it  will  be  found  that  even  with  seven  nails  the 
crust  must  always  have  twenty-one  of  these  separations  existing 
in  it  at  the  same  time  ;  and  as  they  are  often  from  various  causes 
extended  into  each  other,  they  necessarily  keep  it  in  a  brittle, 
unhealthy  state,  and  materially  interfere  with  the  security  of 
the  future  nail-hold. 

By  the  mode  of  fastening  above  advocated  the  struggle  be- 
tween the  expansion  of  the  foot  and  the  resistance  of  the  shoe 
is  entirely  overcome ;  the  outer  side  of  the  foot,  being  the  only 
part  nailed  to  the  shoe,  carries  the  whole  shoe  with  it  at  every 
expansion  ;  while  the  inner  side,  being  unattached,  expands  in- 
dependently of  it,  whereby  all  strain  upon  the  nails  is  avoided, 
and  the  foot  is  left,  with  respect  to  its  power  of  expansion,  as 
nearly  as  possible  in  a  state  of  nature. 

The  position  of  the  hind  foot  and  the  nature  of  its  office 
render  it  less  liable  to  injury  than  the  fore  foot,  and  conse- 
quently it  less  frequently  lames.  As,  however,  disease  of  the 
navicular  bone  of  this  foot  is  by  no  means  impossible,  care 
should  be  taken  to  guard  against  its  contraction  by  interfering 
as  little  as  possible. with  the  expansive  power  of  the  foot;  and 
this  is  best  done  by  keeping  the  nails  on  the  inside  as  far  re- 
moved from  the  heel  as  convenient,  placing  four  nails  in  the 
outer  and  three  in  the  inner  side  of  the  shoe.  The  holes  in  the 
inner  side  should  be  punched  closer  together,  and  kept  more 
towards  the  toe  than  those  on  the  outside,  which  should  be 
more  spread   out,  as  affording   greater  security  of  hold   to 


m 


SHOEING. 


the  foot.  The  shoe  should  be  carefully  fitted  to  the  hoof  all 
round,  particularly  at  the  heels,  which  ai'e  too  often  left  without 
any  support  whatever;  and  the  mischievous  custom  of  turning 
down  the  outer  heel  only  must  be  avoided,  because  it  throws 
the  weight  entirely  upon  the  inner  quarter,  which  is  the  part 
least  able  to  bear  it,  and  causes  much  uncomfortable  strain 
to  the  fetlock  joint  above.  Calkins,  even  though  they  are 
turned  down  of  perfectly  even  length  on  each  side,  (which,  how- 
ever, is  rarely  done,)  are  objectionable  appendages,  and  had 
better  be  dispensed  with,  except,  perhaps,  for  very  heavy  draft, 
where  their  ends  by  entering  the  ground  may  prevent  the  foot 
from  slipping  backwards,  and  may  thus  enable  the  toe  to  obtain 
a  firmer  hold. 

The  form  of  shoe  here  referred  to,  and  the  position  of  the 
nail-holes  are  shown  in  the  cut  annexed. 

Before  leaving  this  subject  it 
should  be  remarked,  that  con- 
tracted feet — that  is,  feet  that 
have  shrunken  and  become  nar- 
row at  the  heels,  and  of  which  the 
i  frog  has  become  materially  re- 
duced in  size, — are  often,  and 
doubtless  most  frequently,  caused 
by  infiammatipn  arising  from  im- 
proper shoeing.  It  is  the  custom 
of  many  smiths  to  "  set  the  shoes 
rHB  PKOPBK  POKM  OF  A  sHOK.        Well  off  at   the  hcels;"  and   to 

a.  »  The  heels  of  aa  eveu  thickness  with  the  rest  of  the  shoe,  b.  i).  Show  the  points 
a«  vhicli  the  heels  of  the  hoof  teraiinated.  e.  c.  The  seating  carried  back,  so  as  to 
clear  the  asgles  at  the  heels,  and  leave  the  seat  of  corns  free  from  pressure,  d.  Tho 
naif-holes  placed  iu  the  fiat  surface  which  supports  the  cru'^t,  where  they  should 
always  be.  e.  The  hindermost  nail  of  the  iuner  side  at  the  inaer  toe,  whereby  thd 
whole  of  the  quarter  aad  heel  are  left  free  to  expaad. 


ADMINISTERING   MEDICINE.  19S 

carry  the  seating  or  level  of  the  upper  side  of  the  shoes  so  far 
back  that  the  heels,  instead  of  resting  on  a  flat  surface,  as  they 
would  on  a  properly  fitted  shoe,  rest  on  the  slopes  of  the  seat- 
ing, which  are  in  this  respect  simply  two  inclined  planes,  so 
placed  that,  at  each  step  taken  by  the  horse,  his  heels  must  be 
pressed  together,  until  a  greater  or  less  contraction  is  made 
manifest,  but  at  too  late  a  period  to  enable  us  to  remedy  the 
evil ;  for  there  is  no  means  by  which  this  contraction  of  the  foot 
can  be  cured — although,  when  it  exists  only  to  a  slight  extent, 
the  internal  portions  of  the  foot  will  sometimes  accommodate 
themselves  to  its  new  form.  So  far  as  disease  is  the  result  of 
bad  shoeing,  it  can  be  obviated  by  so  forming  the  shoe  that  it 
will  afford  a  sufficient  and  perfectly  secure  and  level  support  for 
the  heels. 


ADMINISTERING  MEDICINE. 

The  most  common  form  in  which  medicine  is  given  to  the 
horse  is  by  means  of  the  ball,  which  is  an  oblong  mass  of  rather 
soft  consistence,  yet  tough  enough  to  retain  its  shape,  and 
wrapped  up  in  thin  paper  for  that  purpose.  The  usual  weight 
of  the  ball  is  from  half  an  ounce  to  an  ounce,  but  they  may  be 
given  of  a  larger  size,  if  they  are  made  longer  but  not  wider. 
Every  person  in  charge  of  horses  should  know  how  to  give  a 
ball,  which  is  managed  either  with  or  without  a  balling-iron,  an 
instrument  seldom  wanted,  and  which  sometimes  occasions  con- 
siderable injury  to  the  roof  of  the  horse's  mouth.  Occasionally, 
a  horse  cannot  be  managed  by  any  other  means ;  but,  generally 
speaking,  these  instruments  only  furnish  an  excuse  for  bad 
management.  In  giving  a  ball  in  the  ordinary  way,  the  horse's 
tongue  is  drawn  out  of  his  mouth  on  the  off  or  right  side,  ar.-^ 
13 


19^  ADMINISTERING    MEDICINE. 

held  there  firmly  with  the  left  hand  grasping  it  as  near  the  root 
as  possible,  but  to  a  certain  extent  yielding  to  the  movement 
of  the  horse's  head,  so  as  not  absolutely  to  tear  it  out.  While 
the  tongue  is  thus  held,  the  ball  is  placed  between  the  fingers 
and  thumb  of  the  right  hand,  extended  in  a  wedge-like  or 
conical  form,  so  as  to  pass  as  far  down  the  swallow  as  possible ; 
and  the  hand  in  this  form,  with  the  arm  bared  to  the  shoulder, 
is  carried  over  the  root  of  the  tongue  till  it  feels  the  impedi- 
ment caused  by  the  contraction  of  the  swallow,  when  the  fingers 
leave  the  ball  there,  and  the  hand  is  withdrawn  quickly  yet 
smoothly,  while  at  the  same  moment  the  tongue  is  released,  and 
the  head  is  held  up  till  the  ball  is  seen  to  pass  down  the  gullet 
on  the  left  side  of  the  neck,  after  which  the  head  may  be  released. 
When  the  balling-iron  is  used,  the  oval  ring  of  which  it  is  com- 
posed is  passed  into  the  mouth,  so  as  to  keep  it  open,  being 
first  well  guarded  with  tow  or  cloths  wrapped  around  it ;  the 
handle  is  then  held  in  the  left  hand,  together  with  the  halter, 
so  as  to  steady  the  head,  and  yet  to  keep  the  horse  from  biting ; 
and  while  thus  held  the  hand  can  be  freely  carried  over  the 
tongue,  and  the  ball  be  deposited  in  the  pharynx.  When  a 
horse  is  very  determined,  it  is  sometimes  necessary  to  keep  the 
iron  in  the  mouth  by  means  of  the  check-pieces  of  an  ordinary 
bridle  buckled  to  the  sides  of  the  oval  ring ;  but  this  expedient 
is  seldom  required  if  the  halter  is  firmly  grasped  with  the  handle 
of  the  iron. 

In  the  usual  way  the  horse  to  be  balled  is  turned  around  in 
his  stall,  which  prevents  his  backing  away  from  the  person 
in  charge ;  and  if  the  latter  is  not  tall  enough,  he  may  stand 
npon  a  sound  stable-bucket,  turned  upside  down.  Balls 
should  be  recently  made,  as  they  soon  spoil  by  keeping ;  not 


ADMINISTERING   MEDICINE,  195 

only  losing  their  strength,  but  also  becoming  so  hard  as  to  be 
almost  insoluble  in  the  stomach,  and  frequently  passing 
through  the  bowels  nearly  as  they  went  into  the  mouth. 
When  hard  they  are  also  liable  to  stick  in  the  horse's  gullet. 
If  ammonia,  or  any  other  strong  stimulant,  is  given  in  this 
way,  the  horse  should  not  have  his  stomach  quite  empty,  but 
should  have  a  little  gruel  or  water  just  previously ;  for  if  this 
is  put  off  till  afterward,  the  nauseous  taste  of  the  ball  almost 
always  prevents  his  drinking.  When  arsenic  forms  an  ingre- 
dient of  the  ball,  it  should  be  given  soon  after  a  feed  of  corn ; 
OP  a  quart  or  two  of  gruel  should  be  given  instead,  just  before 
the  ball. 

The  administration  of  a  drench  is  a  much  more  trouble- 
some affair  than  the  giving  of  a  ball ;  and  in  almost  all  cases 
more  or  less  of  the  dose  is  wasted.  Sometimes,  however,  a 
liquid  medicine  is  to  be  preferred,  as  in  colic  or  gripes,  when 
the  urgent  nature  of  the  symptoms  demands  a  rapidly  acting 
remedy,  which  a  ball  is  not,  as  it  requires  time  to  dissolve ; 
and,  besides  this,  a  ball  cannot  contain  any  of  the  spirituous 
cordials.  The  best  instrument  for  giving  a  drench  is  the 
horn  of  the  ox,  cut  obliquely,  so  as  to  form  a  spout.  Bottles 
are  sometimes  used  in  an  emergency,  but  their  fragile  nature 
always  renders  them  dangerous.  In  giving  a  drench,  the 
tongue  is  held  in  the  same  way  as  for  the  delivery  of  a  ball, 
but  the  head  must  be  more  elevated  ;  the  drench  is  then  care- 
fully poured  into  the  throat,  after  which  the  tongue  is  let  go, 
but  the  head  still  kept  up  till  it  is  all  swallowed.  Allowance 
should  always  be  made  for  some  waste  in  giving  a  drench. 

In  managing  horses  while  in  physic,  the  horse  should  in 
all  cases,  if  possible,  be  prepared  by  bran  mashes,  given  for 


196  ADMINISTERING   MEDICINE. 

two  or  three  nights,  so  as  to  make  the  bowels  rather  loose 
than  otherwise,  and  thus  allow  the  dose  to  act  without  undue 
forcing  of  the  impacted  f(Bce8  backward.  If  physic  is  given 
without  this  softening  process,  the  stomach  and  bowels  pour  out 
a  large  secretion  of  fluid,  which  is  forced  back  upon  the  rectum, 
and  met  by  a  solid  obstacle  which  it  takes  a  long  time  to 
overcome^  and  during  that  interval  the  irritating  purge  is 
acting  upon  the  lining  membrane,  and  often  produces  excessive 
inflammation  of  it.  Purging  physic  should  generally  be  given 
in  the  middle  of  the  day,  after  which  the  horse  should  remain 
in  the  stable,  and  have  chilled  water  as  often  as  he  will  drink 
it,  with  bran  mashes.  By  the  next  morning  he  will  be  in  a 
condition  to  be  walked  out  for  an  hour,  which  will  set  the 
bowels  acting,  if  they  have  not  already  begun.  It  is  usual  to 
tie  up  the  tail  with  a  tape  or  string,  so  as  to  keep  it  clean. 
The  horse  should  be  warmly  clothed,  and  if  the  physic  does 
not  act  after  an  hour's  walk,  he  may  be  gently  trotted  for  a 
short  distance,  and  then  taken  home ;  and  if  still  obstinate, 
he  may  be  exercised  again  in  the  afternoon.  As  soon  as  the 
physic  operates  pretty  freely,  the  horse  is  to  be  taken  into  his 
stable,  and  not  stirred  out  again,  under  any  pretense  what- 
ever, for  forty-eight  hours  after  it  has  "set,"  or,  in  common 
language,  stopped  acting.  When  the  purging  has  ceased, 
the  mashes  may  be  continued  for  twenty -four  hours,  with  a 
little  corn  added  to  them,  and  a  quantity  of  hay.  The  water, 
during  the  whole  time,  should  be  in  small  quantities,  and 
chilled  ;  and  the  clothing  should  be  rather  warmer  than  usual, 
taking  great  care  to  avoid  draughts  of  cold  air.  Every  horse 
requires  at  least  a  three-day's  rest  for  a  dose  of  physic,  in 
order  to  avoid  risk  of  mischief. 


ADMINISTERING   MEDICINE.  197 

The  mode  of  giving  a  clyster  is  now  rendered  simple 
enough,  because  a  pump  and  tul)e  are  expressly  made  for  ihe 
purpose  ;  and  it  is  only  necessary  to  pass  the  greased  end  of  the 
tube  carefully  into  the  rectum,  for  about  eight  or  nine  inches, 
and  then  pump  tlie  liquid  up  until  a  sufficient  quantity  is  given. 
From  a  gallon  to  six  quarts  is  the  average  quantity,  but  in 
colic  a  much  larger  amount  is  required. 

Lotions  are  applied  by  means  of  cloth  bandages,  if  used 
to  the  legs ;  or  by  a  piece  of  cloth  tied  over  the  parts,  if  to 
any  other  surface. 

Fomentations  are  very  serviceable  to  the  horse  in  all  recent 
external  inflammations;  and  it  is  astonishing  what  may  be 
done  by  a  careful  person,  with  warm  water  alone,  and  a  good- 
sized  sponge.  Sometimes,  by  means  of  an  elastic  tube  and 
stop-cock,  warm  water  is  conducted  in  a  continuous  stream 
over  an  inflamed  part,  as  in  severe  wounds,  etc.,  in  which  this 
plan  is  found  wonderfully  successful  in  allaying  the  irritation, 
which  is  so  likely  to  occur  in  the  nervous  system  of  the  horse. 
A  vessel  of  warm  water  is  placed  above  the  level  of  the  horse's 
back,  and  a  small  india-rubber  tube  leads  from  it  to  a  sponge 
fixed  above  the  parts,  from  which  the  water  runs  to  the  ground 
as  fast  as  it  is  over-filled.  This  plan  can  be  very  easily  carried 
out  by  any  person  of  ordinary  ingenuity. 


The  many  excellent  qualities  of  the  horse 
are  accompanied  by  some  defects,  which 
occasionally  amount  to  vices.  These  may  in 
^p  part  be  attributed  to  natural  temper ;  for  man 
himself  scarcely  presents  more  peculiarities  of  temper  and  dis- 
position than  does  the  horse.  The  mnjority  of  these  disagree- 
able or  dangerous  habits  in  the  animal  now  under  consideration 
are  without  doubt  attributable  to  a  faulty  education.  The  in- 
structor was  ignorant  and  brutal,  and  the  animal  instructed 
becomes  obstinate  and  vicious.  It  is  proposed  to  mention 
Bome  of  the  more  glaring  of  these  vices,  suggesting  in  connec- 
tion wdth  each  whatever  remedies  or  palliatives  experience  has 
suggested. 

(198) 


BAULKING   OR   JIBBINQ.  199 

KESTIVENESS. 
This  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  all  the  Yicious  qualities  of 
the  horse,  being  at  once  the  most  annoying  and  the  most  dan- 
gerous of  all.  It  is  the  direct  and  natural  result  of  bad  temper 
and  worse  education ;  and,  like  all  other  habits  based  upon  na- 
ture and  engrained  by  education,  it  is  inveterate.  Whether 
it  develop  itself  in  the  form  of  kicking,  rearing,  plunging, 
bolting,  or  in  any  way  that  threatens  danger  to  the  rider  or 
horse,  it  rarely  admits  of  a  cure.  The  animal  may,  indeed,  to 
a  certain  extent  be  subjugated  by  a  determined  rider ;  or  he  may 
have  his  favorites,  or  form  his  attachments,  and  with  some  par- 
ticular person  bo  comparatively  or  perfectly  manageable  ;  but 
others  cannot  long  depend  upon  hi-m,  and  even  his  master  is 
not  always  sure  of  him. 


BAULKING  OK  JIBBING. 

This  species  of  restiveness  is  one  of  the  most  provoking  vices 
of  the  horse,  and  it  can  be  successfully  combated  only  by  a  man 
of  the  most  imperturbable  temper.  The  slightest  sign  of  vexa- 
tion only  increases  the  evil,  and  makes  the  animal  more  and  more 
troublesome  each  time  that  he  refuses  his  work.  Many  a  thick- 
headed, quick-tempered  driver  flies  into  a  passion,  and  beats  or 
otherwise  abuses  his  horse,  on  the  least  symptom  of  baulking, 
until  the  animal  becomes  utterly  worthless  from  a  confirmatioa 
of  the  liabit. 

As  a  rule  it  may  be  stated,  that  horses  baulk  from  nervous- 
ness, or  unsteadiness  of  disposition  ;  if  not,  indeed,  from  an 
over-anxiety  to  perform  their  work.  Nervous,  well-bred  horses 
are  more  suBceplible  to  the  influences  which  induce  baulking, 


200  BAULKING   OR  JIBBING. 

than  are  colder  blooded,  more  indolent  ones.  A  high-mettled 
horse,  when  carelessly  driven,  will  start  suddenly  against  his 
collar,  fail  to  start  his  load,  draw  back  from  the  pain  which  the 
concussion  causes,  rush  at  it  again,  and  again  draw  back,  until 
it  becomes  impossible  for  his  driver  to  steady  him  in  his  collar 
for  a  dead  pull.  If  to  all  this  be  added  a  smart  cut  with  the 
whip,  and  a  fiercely  spoken  word, — with  perhaps  a  blow  over 
the  nose,  or  a  stone  in  the  ear, — every  fear  or  vicious  feeling  of 
the  horse  will  be  summoned  into  action,  and  the  animal  will 
become  entirely  unmanageable,  requiring  to  be  left  for  an  hour 
or  two  in  his  position  before  he  gets  sufficiently  calm  to  be  in- 
duced to  move.  There  may,  occasionally,  be  a  horse  which 
cannot  be  made  to  draw  steadily  by  the  most  careful  treatment; 
but  the  cases  are  exceedingly  rare  in  which  gentle  treatment 
and  firmness — a  patient  persistence  in  mild,  authoritative  com- 
mand, and  judicious  coaxing — would  not  either  prevent  the 
formation  of  the  habit,  or  cure  it  when  formed. 

The  prevention  of  baulky  habits  lies  with  the  driver.  If 
he  jump  upon  his  load,  gather  up  his  reins  carelessly,  flourish 
his  whip,  or  call  out  wildly  to  his  horse,  he  will  be  quite  likely 
to  start  him  forward  with  a  jerk  which  will  be  of  no  avail  to 
move  a  heavily  laden  wagon.  The  horse  thus  commences  to 
baulk  at  a  heavy  load,  and  after  a  certain  amount  of  such  treat- 
ment, will  refuse  to  draw  anything  except  under  the  most  favor- 
able circumstances.  Let  any  person  driving  a  strange  horse, 
•ifith  a  load  that  he  is  not  perfectly  sure  he  can  start  easily, 
proceed  according  to  the  following  directions,  and  he  may  be 
certain  that,  if  the  animal  be  not  already  a  "jibber,"  he  will  not 
make  him  so,  and  that  if  he  is  one  he  will  have  the  best  chance 
for  getting  him  along  without  trouble  :     He  should  slowly  ex- 


BAULKING   OR   JIBBING.  201 

amine  the  harness  and  wagon  (partly  to  accustom  the  horse  to 
iiis  presence,)  gather  up  the  reins  gently,  speaking  to  the  horse 
to  prevent  his  starting,  get  quietly  into  his  seat,  and  then,  if 
possible,  get  control  of  the  horse's  mouth  before  allowing  him 
to  move,  so  that  when  he  does  step  off  it  may  be  only  at  a  slow 
walk.  If  by  a  forward  movement  of  the  hands  he  can  be  made 
to  press  very  gradually  against  the  collar,  and  if  the  whole  ope- 
ration is  performed  in  a  cool  and  unexcited  manner,  there  will 
be  little  difficulty  in  bringing  him  to  a  dead  pull,  from  which 
he  will  recoil  only  if  the  load  is  a  serious  tax  upon  his  strength. 

If  the  first  attempt  fail,  wait  until  your  horse  hns  become 
quiet,  and  until  you  have  recovered  from  your  own  vexation, 
and  then  try  again.  It  may  be  necessary  to  have  the  assis- 
tance of  one  or  two  persons,  to  start  the  wagon  from  behind ; 
but  they  should  not  push  it  until  the  horse  is  fairly  against  the 
collar. 

To  cure  the  habit  of  baulking  is  not  an  easy  matter,  and  it  is 
possible  only  by  the  kindest  treatment.  If  the  horse  show  fear 
by  his  excited  manner,  or,  by  looking  about  him  wildly,  that  he 
is  expecting  a  blow,  you  may  be  sure  that  he  has  received  hard 
usage  under  similar  circumstances,  and  that  he  must  be  con- 
vinced by  caresses  and  kind  words  that  yoa  will  treat  him 
gently.  You  must  recollect  that  the  horse  cannot  understand 
your  language ;  and  that,  while  he  is  confused,  he  will  misin- 
terpret  every  sign  which  you  may  make  to  him.  He  has  an 
idea  of  your  superior  power  ;  and,  in  his  fear  that  you  will 
exercise  it,  as  bad  drivers  have  done  before,  to  his  injury,  he 
will  not  at  once  feel  confidence  in  your  kind  intentions.  He 
must  feel  this  confidence,  whether  it  take  an  hour  or  all  day  to 
convey  it  to  him,  before  you  can  do  anything  to  cure  him  of 


202  BAULKING  OR  JIBBING. 

his  trick.  If  you  have  him  harnessed  to  a  light  wagon  on  a 
smooth  road  where  it  will  afford  but  little  resistance,  you  mar' 
by  repeated  trials  convince  him  that  it  is  a  simple,  easy  mattei 
to  draw  it ;  and  you  should  continue  to  exercise  him  from  daj 
to  day  with  the  same  light  load,  and  afterward  increase  it 
gradually,  until  you  have  trained  him  to  a  qaiet  manner  of 
starting,  or  of  going  up  a  hill  or  elsewhere  where  he  has  been 
accustomed  to  baulk. 

By  the  same  gentle  treatment  you  may  start  a  horse  or  a 
team  that  have  baulked  under  the  driving  of  another  person. 
Request  the  driver  and  all  spectators  to  go  to  the  side  of  the 
road,  and  then  unfasten  the  check-reins,  hang  the  reins  where 
they  will  be  easily  accessible,  but  so  that  they  may  lie  loosely 
upon  the  horses'  backs,  caress  them,  and  allow  them  to  look 
about  and  convince  themselves  that  no  harm  is  doing.  When 
they  have  come  properly  quiet,  go  to  their  heads  and  stand 
directly  in  front  of  the  worst  jibber  of  the  team,  so  that  his  nose 
may  come  against  your  breast  if  he  start.  Turn  them  gently 
to  the  right,  without  allowing  them  to  tighten  their  traces,  and 
after  caressing  them  a  little,  draw  them  in  the  same  way  to  the 
left.  Presently  turn  them  to  the  right,  and  as  you  do  so, 
bring  them  slowly  against  their  collars,  and  let  them  go. 

Sometimes  a  horse  not  often  accustomed  to  baulk,  betrays 
a  reluctance  to  move,  or  a  determination  not  to  move.  In 
such  cases,  the  cause,  if  practicable,  should  always  be  ascer- 
tained. He  may  be  overtaxed,  his  withers  may  be  wrung,  or 
he  may  be  insupportably  galled  or  pained  by  the  harness. 
Those  accustomed  to  horses  know  what  seemingly  trivial  cir- 
cumstances occasionally  produce  this  vice.  A  horse,  whose 
shoulders  are  raw,  or  have  frequently  been  so,  will  not  start 


BITING.  205 

with  a  cold  collar ;  but  when  the  collar  has  acquired  the  warmth 
of  the  parts  upon  which  it  presses,  he  will  go  without  reluc- 
tance. Some  determined  baulkers  have  been  reformed  by 
constantly  wearing  a  false  collar,  or  strip  of  cloth  around  the 
shoulders,  so  that  the  coldness  of  the  usual  collar  should  never 
be  felt ;  and  others  have  been  cured  by  keeping  the  collar  on 
night  and  day,  for  the  animal  is  not  able  to  lie  down  completely 
at  full  length,  which  the  tired  horse  is  always  glad  to  do.  When 
a  horse  baulks,  not  at  starting,  but  while  doing  his  work,  it  has 
sometimes  been  found  useful  to  line  the  collar  with  cloth  in- 
stead of  leather ;  the  perspiration  is  readily  absorbed,  the  sub- 
stance pressing  upon  the  shoulder  is  softer,  and  it  may  be  far 
more  accurately  eased  oflf  at  a  tender  place. 


BITING. 

This  is  either  the  consequence  of  natural  ferocity,  or  a  habit 
acquired  from  the  foolish  and  teasing  play  of  grooms  and 
stable-boys.  When  a  horse  is  tickled  and  pinched  by  thought- 
less and  mischievous  youths,  he  will  at  first  pretend  to  bite  his 
tormentors;  by  degrees  he  will  proceed  further,  and  actually 
bite  them,  and  very  soon  after  that  he  will  then  be  the  first 
to  challenge  to  the  combat,  and  without  provocation  will  seize 
the  first  opportunity  to  grip  the  careless  teaser.  At  length, 
as  the  love  of  mischief  is  a  propensity  too  easily  acquired,  this 
war,  half  playful  and  half  in  earnest,  becomes  habitual  to  him, 
and  degenerates  into  absolute  viciousness. 

It  is  seldom  that  any  thing  can  be  done  in  the  way  of  cure. 
Kindness  will  aggravate  the  evil,  and  no  degree  of  severity  will 
correct  it.  Biters  have  been  punished  until  they  have  trembled 
in  every  joint,  and  were  ready  to  drop,  but  this  treatment 


204  KICKINa. 

scarcely  ever  cures  them.  The  lash  is  forgotten  in  an  hour,  and 
the  horse  is  as  ready  and  determined  to  repeat  the  offense  as 
before.  He  appears  unable  to  resist  the  temptation,  and  in  its 
worst  form  biting  is  a  species  of  insanity. 

Prevention,  however,  is  in  the  power  of  every  proprietor  of 
horses.  While  he  insists  upon  gentle  and  humane  treatment, 
he  should  systematically  forbid  this  horse-play. 


KICKING. 

This,  as  a  vice,  is  another  consequence  of  the  culpable  habit 
of  teasing  the  horse.  That  which  is  at  first  simply  an  indica- 
tion of  annoyance  at  the 
pinching  and  tickling  of 
the  groom,  and  without 
any  design  to  injnre,  gradually 
becomes  the  expression  of  anger, 
and  the  effort  to  do  mischief. 
The  horse,  also,  too  soon  recog- 
nizes the  least  appearance 
of  timidity,  and  ^  ^^ 
takes  advantage  of 

PAETICDLABLT  DANGEROUS, 

the  discovery. 

Some  horses  acquire,  from  mere  irritability  and  fidgetiness, 
a  habit  of  kicking  at  the  stall  or  the  bail,  and  particularly  at 
night.  The  neighboring  horses  are  disturbed,  and  the  kicker 
gets  swelled  hocks,  or  some  more  serious  injury.  This  is  a 
habit  very  difficult  to  correct,  if  it  is  allowed  to  become  estab- 
lished.    Mares  are  much  more  subject  to  it  than  horses. 

Before  the  habit  is  inveterately  established,  a  thorn -bush  or 
a  piece  of  furze  fastened  against  the  partition  or  post  will  some* 


.t^M 


-.^^^mmtWJi^ 


KicKiNa.  20S 

> 

times  effect  a  cure.  When  the  horse  finds  that  he  is  pretty 
severely  pricked,  he  will  not  long  continue  to  punish  himself. 
In  confirmed  cases  it  may  be  necessary  to  have  recourse  to  the 
log.  but  the  legs  are  often  not  a  little  bruised  by  it.  A  rather 
long  and  heavy  piece  of  wood  attached  to  a  chain  has  beeu 
buckled  above  the  hock,  so  as  to  reach  about  half-way  down 
the  leg.  When  the  horse  attempts  to  kick  violently,  his  leg  will 
receive  a  severe  blow ;  this,  and  the  repetition  of  it,  may  after 
a  time  teach  him  to  be  quiet. 

Kicking  in  harness  is  a  much  more  serious  vice.  From  the 
least  annoyance  about  the  rump  or  quarters,  some  horses  will  kick 
at  a  most  violent  rate,  and  destroy  the  bottom  of  the  chaise,  and 
endanger  the  limbs  of  the  driver.  Those  that  are  fidgety  in 
the  stable  are  most  inclined  to  do  this.  If  the  reins  chance  to 
get  under  the  tail,  the  violence  of  the  kicker  will  often  be  most 
outrageous ;  and  while  the  animal  presses  down  his  tail  so 
tightly  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  extricate  the  reins,  he 
continues  to  plunge  until  he  has  demolished  every  thing  behind 
him. 

This  is  a  vice  standing  foremost  in  point  of  danger,  and  one 
which  no  treatment  will  always  conquer.  It  is  altogether  in 
vain  to  attempt  coercion.  If  the  shafts  are  very  strong  and 
without  flaw,  or  if  they  are  plated  with  iron  underneath,  and  a 
stout  kicking-strap  resorted  to,  which  will  barely  allow  the 
horse  the  proper  use  of  his  hind  limbs  in  progression,  but  not 
permit  him  to  raise  them  sufficiently  for  the  purpose  of  kicking, 
he  may  be  prevented  from  doing  mischief. 


206  REARING. 

REAEING. 

This  vice  is  not  very  common,  at  least  in  a  dangerous  form, 
and  can  generally  be  prevented  by  the  use  of  the  martingale. 

In  the  case  of  saddle-horses,  another  good  prevention  is,  when 
tbe  horse  is  about  to  rise,  to  touch  him  with  the  spur  on  one  side 
only  ;  this  will  cause  him  to  stop  to  lift  the  hind  leg  on  that  side, 
and  if  he  persists  in  his  attempt  the  spurs  may  be  used  vigor- 
ously, first  on  one  side,  and  then  on  the  other,  but  not  so  fast 
as  to  prevent  the  horse  from  raising  his  hind  legs  alternately, 
as  he  is  spurred.  The  least  touch  of  the  curb-bit  will  cause 
some  vicious  and  badly  trained  horses  to  rear,  while  those  which 
have  been  thoroughly  trained  will  rear  slightly,  to  a  great  height, 
or  not  at  all,  as  their  rider  may  desire ;  but  it  is  obvious  that 
horses  so  delicately  trained  should  not  be  ridden  by  unskillful 
persons,  lest  the  awkwardness  of  the  rider  should  cause  unex- 
pected curveting. 

The  remedy  of  some  breakers,  that  of  pulling  the  horse  back- 
ward on  a  soft  piece  of  ground  should  be  practiced  by  reckless 
and  brutal  fellows  alone.  Many  horses  have  been  injured  in  the 
spine,  and  others  have  broken  their  necks,  by  being  thus  sud- 
denly pulled  over ;  while  even  the  fellow  who  fears  no  danger, 
is  not  always  able  to  extricate  himself  from  the  falling  horse. 
If  rearing  proceeds  from  vice,  and  is  unprovoked  by  the  bruis- 
ing and  laceration  of  the  mouth,  it  fully  partakes  of  the  invete- 
racy which  attends  the  other  divisions  of  restiveness. 


PULLING   BACK   ON  THE   HALTER. 
This  is  a  vice  which  has  probably  arisen  from  the  horse 
having,  at  some  time,  broken  a  weak  halter  in  a  fit  of  impa- 


yiCIOLS  TO  CLEAN.  20T 

tience.  The  only  safe  cure  for  it,  and  this  is  not  always  suc- 
cessful, is  to  tie  the  horse  with  a  very  strong  halter,  which  it 
will  be  impossible  for  him  to  break ;  finding  that  his  efforts 
fere  futile,  he  will,  after  a  time,  generally  desist  from  pulling — 
though  some  incorrigible  brutes  will  try  every  new  halter  as 
soon  as  they  are  fastened,  and  will  break  it  if  possible. 


KUNNING   AWAY. 

Some  headstrong  horses  will  occasionally  endeavor  to  bolt 
with  the  best  rider ;  others,  with  their  wonted  sagacity,  en- 
deavor thus  to  dislodge  only  the  timid  or  unskillful  one. 
Some  are  hard  to  hold,  or  bolt  only  during  the  excitement  of 
a  trial  of  speed,  or  the  like ;  others  will  run  away,  prompted 
by  vicious  propensity  alone.  There  is  no  certain  cure  here. 
The  only  method  which  affords  any  probability  of  success  is,  to 
ride  such  a  horse  with  a  strong  curb  and  sharp  bit ;  to  have 
him  always  firmly  in  hand  ;  and  if  he  will  run  away,  and  the 
place  will  admit  of  it,  to  give  him  (sparing  neither  curb,  whip, 
nor  spur,)  a  great  deal  more  running  than  he  likes. 


VICIOUS    TO    CLEAN. 

It  would  scarcely  be  credited  to  what  an  extent  this  exists 
in  some  horses  that  are  otherwise  perfectly  quiet ;  it  is  only  at 
great  hazard  that  they  can  be  cleaned  at  all.  The  origin  of 
this  is  probably  some  maltreatment.  There  is,  however,  a 
great  difi*erence  in  the  sensitiveness  of  the  skin  in  different 
horses.  Some  seem  as  if  they  could  scarcely  be  made  to  feel 
the  whip,  while  others  cannot  bear  a  fly  to  light  upon  them 
without  an  expression  of  annoyance.  In  young  horses  the 
skin  is  peculiarly  delicate.     If  they  have  been  curried  with  a 


S08  VICIOUS   TO   SHOE. 

broken  comb,  or  bardlj  rubbed  with  an  uneven  brush,  the 
recollection  of  the  tortupe  they  have  felt  makes  them  impa- 
tient and  even  vicious  during  every  succeeding  operation  of 
the  kind.  Many  grooms,  likewise,  seem  to  delight  in  pro- 
ducing these  exhibitions  of  uneasiness  and  vice,  although,  when 
they  are  carried  a  little  too  far,  and  at  the  hazard  of  the  limbs 
of  the  groom,  the  animals  that  have  been  almost  tortured  into 
these  manifestations  of  irritation,  are  brutally  kicked  and 
punished. 

This,  however  is  a  vice  that  may  be  conquered.  If  the 
horse  is  dressed  with  a  lighter  hand,  and  wiped  rather  than 
brushed,  and  the  places  where  the  skin  is  most  sensitive  are 
avoided  as  much  as  thorough  cleanliness  will  allow,  he  will 
gradually  lose  the  recollection  of  former  ill-treatment,  and  be- 
come tractable  and  quiet. 

In  those  instances  where  the  skin  is  so  irritable  that  the 
horse  really  endures  a  great  deal  of  misery  every  time  he  is 
cleaned  besides  requiring  needlessly  the  expenditure  of  a 
great  amount  of  muscular  exertion,  the  remedy  is  very  simple  ; 
instead  of  being  curry-combed  and  wiped,  the  horse  should  be 
merely  washed  over  with  warm  water  on  his  coming  in  warm 
from  a  journey,  then  gently  scraped  and  covered  with  a  rug. 
The  warmth  of  the  body  will  very  soon  dry  the  gkin. 


VICIOUS  TO    SHOE. 

The  correction  of  this  is  more  peculiarly  the  business  of  the 
smith ;  yet  the  master  should  diligently  concern  himself  with 
it,  for  it  is  more  often  the  consequence  of  injudicious  or  bad 
usage,  than  of  natural  vice.  The  vice  is  certainly  a  bad  one, 
and  it  very  materially  diminishes  the  v«alue  of  the  horse  ;  for  ii 


VICIOUS  TO  SHOE.  209 

is  a  lial)it  which  generally  gets  worse  at  each  time  of  saoeing. 
It  is  not  so  much  the  kicking  of  the  horse  that  is  to  be  feared, 
but  the  animal  will  bear  his  whole  weight  on  the  foot  requiring 
to  be  shod,  so  that  the  smith  is  unable  to  lift  it  up,  or  after- 
ward to  support  it ;  beside  which  the  animal  will  keep  con- 
tinually kicking  or  endeavoring  to  get  the  foot  away,  to  the 
imminent  danger  of  the  limbs  of  the  unfortunate  operative. 
This  deplorable  and  vicious  habit  is  greatly  increased,  if  not 
altogether  produced,  by  rough  usage  at  the  early  shoeings, 
and  it  generally  gets  worse  at  each  time  of  shoeing,  so  that 
the  horse  is  often  rendered  at  last  completely  worthless. 

It  may  be  expected  that  there  will  be  some  difficulty  in 
shoeing  a  horse  for  the  first  few  times,  as  it  is  an  operation 
that  gives  him  a  little  uneasiness.  The  man  to  whom  he  is 
most  accustomed  should  go  with  him  to  the  forge ;  and  if 
another  and  steady  horse  is  shod  before  him,  he  may  be  in- 
duced more  readily  to  submit.  It  cannot  be  denied  that,  after 
the  habit  of  resisting  this  necessary  operation  is  formed,  force 
may  sometimes  be  required  in  order  to  reduce  our  rebellious 
servant  to  obedience ;  but  there  can  be  no  manner  of  question 
that  the  large  majority  of  horses  vicious  to  shoe  are  rendered 
so  by  harsh  usage,  and  by  the  pain  of  correction  being  added 
to  the  uneasiness  of  shoeing.  It  should  be  a  rule  in  every 
forge,  that  no  smith  should  be  permitted  to  strike  a  horse, 
much  less  to  twitch  or  gag  him,  without  the  master-farrier^s 
order ;  and  that  a  young  horse  should  never  be  twitched  or 
struck.  There  are  few  horses  that  may  not  gradually  be  ren- 
dered manageable  for  this  purpose  by  mildness  and  firmness 
on  the  part  of  the  operator ;  they  will  soon  understand  that  no 
harm  is  meant,  and  they  will  not  forget  their  usual  habit  ot 
U 


210  CRIB- BITING. 

obedience ;  but  if  the  remembrance  of  corporeal  punisliment 
is  connected  with  shoeing,  they  will  always  be  fidgety,  and 
occasionally  dangerous. 


CRIB-BITING. 
This  is  a  very  unpleasant  habit,  and  a  considerable  defect, 
although  not  so  serious  as  it  is  often  represented.  The  horse 
lays  hold  of  the  manger  with  his  teeth,  yiolently  extends  his 
neck  and  then,  after  some  convulsive  action  of  the  throat,  a 
slight  grunting  is  heard,  accompanied  by  a  sucking  or  drawing 
in  of  air.  It  is  not  an  effort  at  simple  eructation,  arising  from 
indigestion  ;  it  is  the  inhalation  of  air.  It  is  that  which  takes 
place  with  all  kinds  of  diet,  and  when  the  stomach  is  empty  as 
well  as  when  it  is  full. 

The  effects  of  crib-biting  are  plainly  perceptible.     The  teeth 
are  injured  and  worn  away,  and  that,  in  an  old  horse,  to  a  very 
serious  degree.     A  considerable  quantity 
of  grain  is  often  lost,  for  the  horse  will 
frequently  crib  with  his  mouth  full 
of  it,  and  the  greater  part  will  fall 
over  the  edge  of  the  manger. 
Much  saliva  escapes  while 
the  manger  is  thus  forcibly 
.    held,  the  loss  of  which  must 
be  of  serious  detriment  in 


IIFZZLE  FOB  A  CRIB-BITER. 


impairing  digestion  The 
crib-biting  horse  is  notoriously  more  subject  to 
colic  than  other  horses,  and  that  of  a  kind  difficult  of  treatment 
and  peculiarly  dangerous  Although  many  a  crib-biter  is  stout 
and  strong,  and  capable  of  all  ordinary  work,  these  horses  do 


CRIB-BITINO.  211 

Jiot  generally  carry  as  much  flesh  as  otliers,  and  have  not  their 
endurance  ;  on  these  accounts,  crib-liiting  has  been,  and  very 
properly,  decided  by  the  highest  authority  to  be  unsound- 
ness. 

It  is  moreover  one  of  those  tricks  which  are  exceedingly  con- 
tagious. Every  companion  of  a  crib-biter  in  the  same  stable, 
is  likely  to  acquire  the  habit,  and  it  is  the  most  inveterate  of  all 
habits.  The  edge  of  the  manger  will  in  vain  be  lined  with  iron, 
or  with  sheep-skin,  or  with  sheep-skin  covered  with  tar  or  aloes, 
or  any  other  unpleasant  substance.  In  spite  of  the  annoyance 
which  these  may  occasion,  the  horse  will  persist  in  his  attack 
on  the  manger.  A  strap  bnckled  tightly  round  the  neck,  by 
compressing  the  windpipe,  is  the  best  means  of  preventing  the 
possibility  of  this  trick ;  but  the  strap  must  be  constantly  worn, 
and  its  pressure  is  apt  to  produce  a  worse  affection,  viz.,  an 
irritation  of  the  windpipe,  which  terminates  in  roaring. 

Some  have  recommended  turning  out  for  five  or  six  months; 
but  this  has  never  succeeded,  except  with  a  young  horse,  and 
then  but  rarely.  The  old  crib-biter  will  employ  the  gate  for 
the  same  purpose  as  the  edge  of  his  manger,  and  he  will  often 
gallop  across  a  field  for  the  mere  purpose  of  having  a  bite  at 
the  rail.     Medicine  is  altogether  thrown  away  in  such  a  case. 

The  only  remedy  is  a  muzzle,  with  bars  across  the  bottom ; 
sufficiently  wide  to  enable  the  animal  to  pick  up  his  corn  and 
to  pull  his  hay,  but  not  to  grasp  the  edge  of  his  manger.  If 
this  is  worn  for  a  considerable  period,  the  horse  may  be  tired 
of  attempting  that  which  he  cannot  accomplish,  and  for  a 
while  forget  the  habit ;  but  in  a  majority  of  cases  the  desire  of 
crib-biting  will  return  with  the  power  of  gratifying  it. 

The  causes  of  crib-biting  are  various,  and  some  of  them  be- 


^ISi  OVERREACHING. 

yond  the  control  of  the  owner  of  the  horse.  It  is  often  the 
result  of  imitation  ;  but  it  is  more  frequently  the  consequence 
of  idleness.  The  high-fed  and  spirited  horse  must  be  in  mis- 
chief, if  he  is  not  usefully  employed.  Sometimes,  but  not  often, 
it  is  produced  by  partial  starvation  ;  and  another  occasional 
cause  is  the  frequent  custom  of  dressing  the  horse,  even  when 
the  weather  is  not  severe,  in  the  stable, — thus  enabling  the 
animal  to  catch  at  the  edge  of  the  manger,  or  at  that  of  the 
partition  on  each  side,  if  he  has  been  turned. 


WIND-SUCKING. 

This  closely  resembles  crib-biting,  and  arises  from  the  same 
causes  ;  the  same  purpose  is  accomplished,  and  the  same  results 
follow.  The  horse  stands  with  his  back  bent,  his  head  drawn 
Inward,  his  lips  alternately  slightly  opened  and  then  closed,  and 
a  noise  is  heard  as  if  he  were  sucking.  It  appears  quite  pro- 
bable, judging  from  the  same  comparative  want  of  condition 
and  the  flatulence  noted  in  connection  with  the  last  habit,  that 
either  some  portion  of  wind  enters  the  stomach,  or  there  is  an 
injurious  loss  of  saliva. 

This  vice  diminishes  the  value  of  the  animal  nearly  as  much 
as  crib-biting ;  it  is  equally  as  contagious  and  inveterate.  The 
only  remedies — and  they  will  seldom  avail — are  tying  the  head 
up,  except  when  the  horse  is  feeding,  or  putting  on  a  muzzle 
with  sharp  spikes  toward  the  neck,  which  will  prick  him  when- 
ever he  attempts  to  rein  his  head  in  for  the  purpose  of  wind- 
sucking. 


OVERREACHING. 

This  unpleasant  noise  known  also  by  the  name  of  "  clicking," 
is  occasioned  by  the  toe  of  the  hind  foot,  or  the  inner  edge  of 


NOT  LYING   DOWN.  213 

the  inside  of  its  shoe,  striking  upon  the  heel  of  the  coronet  of 
the  fore  foot.  The  preventive  treatment  is  the  beveling,  or 
rounding  off,  of  the  inside  rim  or  edge  of  the  hind  shoe.  The 
cure  is,  the  cutting  away  of  the  loose  parts,  the  application  of 
Friar's  balsam,  and  protection  from  the  dirt. 

Some  horses,  particularly  young  ones,  overreach  so  as  to 
strike  the  toes  of  the  hind  shoes  against  the  fore  ones,  which  is 
termed  "clinking. "  Keeping  up  the  head  of  the  horse  does  some- 
thing to  prevent  this  ;  but  the  smith  may  do  more  by  shortening 
the  toe  of  the  hind  shoes  and  having  the  web  broad.  When 
they  are  too  long,  they  are  apt  to  be  torn  off ;  when  too  narrow, 
the  hind  foot  may  bruise  the  sole  of  the  fore  one,  or  may  be 
locked  fast  between  the  branches  of  the  fore  shoe. 


NOT  LYING  DOWN. 

It  occasionally  happens  that  a  horse  will  seldom  or  never 
lie  down  in  the  stable.  He  sometimes  continues  in  apparent 
good  health,  and  feeds  and  works  well  ;  but  generally  his  legs 
swell,  and  he  becomes  fatigued  sooner  than  another  horse.  If 
it  is  impossible  to  let  him  loose  in  the  stable,  or  to  put  hira 
into  a  spare  box,  nothing  can  be  done  to  obviate  the  difficulty. 
Ko  means,  gentle  or  cruel,  will  force  hira  to  lie  down.  The 
secret  is,  that  he  is  tied  up,  and  either  has  never  dared  to  lie 
down  through  fear  of  the  confinement  of  the  halter,  or  he  has 
been  cast  in  the  night  and  severely  injured.  If  he  can  be  suf- 
fered to  range  the  stable,  or  have  a  comfortable  box  in  which 
he  may  be  loose,  he  will  usually  lie  down  the  first  night.  Some 
few  horses,  however,  will  lie  down  in  a  stable,  and  not  in  a  loose 
box.  A  fresh,  well-made  bed  will  generally  tempt  the  tired 
horse  to  refresh  himself  with  sleep. 


2U 


JSHYING. 


It  may  be  observed  in  this  connection,  that  the  basis  of  sup- 
port afforded  by  the  four  extremities  is  so  considerable  in  the 
horse,  that  he  is  able  to  sleep  in  a  standing  position,  and  some 
horses  have  even  been  known  to  preserve  their  health,  strength, 
and  condition,  although  they  were  never  known  to  lie  down. 
At  the  same  time,  it  is  undeniable,  that  an  animal  that  will 
quickly  lie  down  and  take  his  rest,  as  a  general  rule,  preserves 
his  condition,  and  is  better  fitted  for  exertion. 


SHYIWG. 

This  most  dangerous  habit  is  sometimes  the  effect  of  fear,  and 
sometimes  is  a  downright  vicious  propensity;   and  there  are 

many  horses  which  commence  the 
practice  through  fear  and  end  by 
becoming  viciously  disposed  to 
indulge  in  it,  in  consequence  of 
sheer   mismanage- 
ment.    The  young 
colt  is  almost  al- 
ways more  or  less 
shy,   especially   if 
he   is   brought   at 
once  from  the  re- 
tired fields  in  which 
he  was  reared  to  the  streets  of  a  busy  town. 

There  are,  however,  numberless  varietitjs  of  shyers,  some 
being  dreadfully  alarmed  by  one  kind  of  object,  w  !iich  to  another 
is  not  at  all  formidable.  When  a  horse  finds  that  he  gains  his 
object  by  turning  around,  he  will  often  repeat  the  turning  with- 
out cause,  pretending  to  be  alarmed,  and  looking  out  for  ex- 


DISAGREEABLE  AND  DANGEROUS. 


SHYING.  215 

Cuses  for  it.  This  is  not  at  all  uiicouiinon,  and  with  timid 
riders  leads  to  a  discontinuance  of  the  ride,  by  which  the  horse 
gains  his  end  for  the  time,  and  repeats  the  triclc  upon  the  first 
occasion.  In  genuine  shying  from  fear,  the  eyes  are  generally 
.more  or  less  defective ;  but  sometimes  this  is  not  the  cause, 
which  is  founded  upon  a  general  irritability  of  the  nervous 
system.  Thus,  there  are  many  that  never  shy  at  meeting  wagons, 
or  other  similar  objects,  but  which  almost  drop  with  fear  on  a 
small  bird  flying  out  of  a  hedge,  or  any  other  startling  sound. 
These  are  also  worse,  because  they  give  no  notice,  whereas  the 
ordinary  shyer  almost  always  shows  by  his  ears  that  he  is  pre- 
pared to  turn. 

For  shyers  the  only  remedy  is,  to  take  as  little  notice  as 
possible,  to  make  light  of  the  occurrence,  speak  encouragingly, 
yet  rather  severely,  and  to  get  them  by  the  object  in  one  ivay  or 
another.  If  needful,  the  aid  of  the  spur  and  whip  may  be  called 
in,  but  not  as  a  punishment.  If  the  horse  can  be  urged  to  go 
by  the  object  at  which  he  is  shying  without  the  whip  or  spur, 
so  much  the  better ;  but  if  not,  he  must  be  compelled  to  do  so 
by  their  use.  Wherever  fear  is  the  cause  of  shying,  punishment 
only  adds  to  that  fear ;  but  where  vice  has  supplanted  fear, 
severity  should  be  used  to  correct  it. 

As  a  general  rule,  the  whip  need  never  be  used,  unless  the 
horse  turns  absolutely  round,  and  not  then  unless  there  is  reason 
to  suspect  that  he  is  pretending  fear.  If  he  will  only  go  by  the 
object,  even  with  "a  wide  berth,"  as  the  sailors  say,  he  may  be 
Bufl'ered  to  go  on  his  way  unpunished ;  and  nothing  is  so  bad 
as  the  absurd  severity  which  some  horsemen  exercise  after  the 
horse  has  conquered  his  reluctance,  and  pa?sed  the  object.  At 
this  time  he  should  be  praised  and   petted,  with  all  the  en- 


216  PAWING. 

couragement  which  can  be  given ;  and  on  no  account  should  he 
be  taught  to  make  those  rushes  which  are  so  commonly  seen 
on  the  road,  from  the  improper  use  of  whip  and  spur.  If  pun- 
ishment is  necessary  at  all,  it  must  be  used  beforehand ;  bat  it 
often  happens  that  the  rider  cannot  spare  his  whip-hand  until 
the  shying  is  over ;  and  then,  in  his  passion,  he  does  not  reflect 
that  the  time  has  passed  for  its  employment. 

Shying  on  coming  out  of  the  stable  is  a  habit  that  can  rarely 
or  never  be  cured.  It  proceeds  from  the  remembrance  of  some 
ill-usage  or  hurt  which  the  animal  has  received  in  the  act  of 
proceeding  from  the  stable,  such  as  striking  his  head  against  a 
low  door- way,  or  entangling  the  harness. 

When  the  cure,  however,  is  early  attempted,  it  may  be  so  far 
overcome  that  it  will  be  unattended  with  danger  or  difficulty. 
The  horse  should  be  bridled  when  led  out  or  in.  He  should  be 
held  short  and  tight  by  the  head,  that  he  may  feel  that  he  has 
not  liberty  to  make  a  leap,  and  this  of  itself  is  often  sufficient 
to  restrain  him.  Punishment,  or  a  threat  of  it,  will  be  highly 
improper.  It  is  only  timid  or  higli-spirited  horses  that  acquire 
the  habit,  and  rough  usage  invariably  increases  their  agitation 
and  terror. 


PAWING. 

Some  hot  and  irritable  horses  are  restless  even  in  the  stable, 
and  paw  fiequently  and  violently.  Their  litter  is  destroyed, 
the  floor  of  the  stable  broken  up,  the  shoes  worn  out,  the  feet 
bruised,  and  the  legs  sometimes  sprained.  If  this  habit  does 
not  exist  to  any  great  extent,  yet  the  stable  never  looks  well. 
Shackles  are  the  only  remedy,  with  a  chain  sufficiently  long  to 
anable  the  horse  to  shift  his  posture,  or  move  in  his  stall ;  but 


SLIPPING  THE  COLLAR  OR   HALTER.  ^gll 

these  must  be  taken  oflf  at  night,  otherwise  the  animal  wil3 
seldom  lie  down.  Unless,  however,  the  horse  possesses  pecu- 
liar value,  it  will  be  better  to  dispose  of  him  at  once,  than  to 
submit  to  the  danger  and  inconvenience  that  he  may  occasion. 


ROLLING. 

This  is*  a  very  pleasant  and  perfectly  safe  amusement  for  a 
horse  at  grass,  but  cannot  be  indulged  in  the  stable  without  the 
chance  of  his  being  dangerously  entangled  with  the  collar,  rein, 
or  halter,  and  being  cast.  Yet,  although  the  horse  is  cast,  and 
bruised,  and  half  strangled,  he  will  roll  again  on  the  following 
night  and  continue  to  do  so  as  long  as  he  lives.  The  only 
remedy  is  not  a  very  pleasant  one  for  the  horse,  -flor  always 
quite  safe  ;  yet  recourse  must  be  had  to  it,  if  the  habit  of  rolling 
is  inveterate.  The  horse  should  be  tied  with  length  enough  of 
halter  to  lie  down,  but  not  to  allow  of  his  head  resting  upon 
the  ground ;  because,  in  order  to  roll  over,  a  horse  is  obliged 
to  place  his  head  quite  down  upon  the  ground. 


SLIPPING  THE  COLLAR  OR  HALTER. 

This  is  a  trick  in  which  many  horses  are  so  well  accomplished, 
that  scarcely  a  night  passes  without  their  getting  loose.  It  is 
a  very  serious  habit,  for  it  enables  the  horse  sometimes  to  gorge 
himself  with  food  to  the  imminent  danger  of  producing  stag- 
gers ;  or  it  exposes  him,  as  he  wanders  about,  to  be  kicked  and 
injured  by  the  other  horses,  while  his  restlessness  will  often  keep 
the  whole  team  awake.  If  the  web  of  the  halter,  being  first 
accurately  fitted  to'his  neck,  is  sufi'ered  to  slip  only  one  way, 
or  a  strap  is  attached  to  the  halter  and  buckled  round  the  neck, 
but  not  sufficiently  tight  to  be  of  serious  inconvenience,  the 
power  of  slipping  the  collar  will  be  taken  away. 


218  STUMBLINQ. 

STUMBLING. 

That  person  must  either  be  a  skillful  practitioner,  or  a  mere 
pretender,  who  engages  to  remedy  this  habit.  If  it  arise  from 
a  heavy  forehand,  and  the  fore  legs,  being  too  much  under  the 
horse,  no  one  can  alter  the  natural  frame  of  the  auj^mal ;  if  it 
proceeds  from  tenderness  of  foot,  grogginess,  or  old  lameness, 
these  ailments  are  seldom  cured.  Also,  if  it  is  to  be  traced  to 
habitual  carelessness  and  idleness,  no  whipping  will  rouse  the 
drone.  A  known  stumbler  should  never  be  ridden  or  driven 
by  any  one  who  values  his  safety  or  his  life.  A  tight  hand  or 
a  strong  bracing-rein  are  precautions  that  should  not  be  neg- 
lected, although  they  are  generally  of  little  avail ;  for  the  in- 
veterate stumbler  will  rarely  be  able  to  save  himself,  and  this 
tight  rein  may  sooner  and  further  precipitate  the  rider.  If 
after  stumbling  the  horse  suddenly  starts  forward,  and  endea- 
vors to  break  into  a  short  trot  or  canter,  the  rider  may  be 
assured  that  others  before  him  have  fruitlessly  endeavored  to 
remedy  the  nuisance. 

If  the  stumbler  has  the  foot  kept  as  short,  and  the  toe  pared 
as  close  as  safety  will  permit,  and  the  shoe  is  rounded  at  the 
toe,  or  has  that  shape  given  to  it  which  it  naturally  acquires  in 
a  fortnight  from  the  peculiar  action  of  such  a  horse,  the  animal 
may  not  stumble  quite  so  much ;  or  if  the  disease  which  pro- 
duced the  habit  can  be  alleviated,  some  trifling  good  may  be 
done  ;  but  in  almost  every  case  the  stumbler  should  be  got  rid 
of,  or  put  to  slow  and  heavy  work.  If  the  latter  alternative 
is  adopted,  he  may  stumble  as  much  as  he  pleases,  for  the 
weight  of  the  load  and  the  motion  of  the  other  horses  will  keep 
him  upon  his  legs. 


UNSTEADINESS   WHILE   BEING    MOUNTED.  219 

UNSTEADINESS   WHILE    BEING    MOUNTED. 

When  this  merely  amounts  to  eagerness  to  start — very  un- 
pleasant, indeed,  at  times,  for  many  a  rider  has  been  thrown 
from  his  seat  before  he  was  fairly  fixed  in  it — it  may  be  reme- 
died by  an  active  and  good  horseman.  It  oftentimes  happens 
that  while  the  elderly,  inactive,  and  fearful  man  is  engaged  in 
making  more  than  one  ineffectual  attempt  to  vault  into  the 
saddle,  the  horse  is  dancing  about  to  his  annoyance  and  danger; 
but  no  sooner  is  the  animal  transferred  to  the  management  of  a 
younger  and  more  agile  rider,  than  he  becomes  perfectly  sub- 
dued. Severity  will  here,  more  decidedly  than  in  any  other 
case,  do  harm.  The  rider  should  be  fearless  ;  he  should  care- 
lessly and  confidentially  approach  the  horse,  mount  at  the  first 
effort,  and  then  restrain  him  for  a  while ;  patting  him,  and 
not  allowing  him  to  proceed  until  he  becomes  perfectly  quiet. 
Horses  of  this  kind  should  not  be  too  highly  fed,  and  should 
have  sufficient  daily  exercise. 

When  the  difficulty  of  mounting  arises,  not  from  eagerness 
to  start,  but  from  unwillingness  to  be  ridden,  the  sooner  that 
horse  is  disposed  of  the  better.  He  may  be  conquered  by  a 
skillful  and  determined  horseman  ;  but  even  he  will  not  succeed 
without  frequent  and  dangerous  contests  that  will  mar  all  the 
pleasures  of  the  ride. 


Under  this  head  it  is  proposed  to  treat  of 
the  various  diseases  which  horse-flesh  is  heir 
to,  together  with  their  symptoms,  and  to 
offer  such  remedies  as  personal  experience,  or  the  authority 
of  others  in  whom  implicit  confidence  may  be  placed,  suggests 
as  the  most  efficacious.  For  convenience  of  discussion,  these 
diseases  are  arranged  in  the  present  work  under  the  heads  of 
diseases  of  the  mouth ;  of  the  respiratory  organs  ;  of  the 
stomach  and  intestines;  of  the  limbs;  of  the  urinary  organs; 
of  the  feet  and  legs ;  of  the  heart  j  of  the  head ;  and 
(220) 


LAMPAS.  221 

of  the  eye; — placing  under  the  head  of  miscellaneous  such 
as  do  not  appropriately  fall  under  either  of  the  foregoing" 
diseases. 


DISEASES   OF   THE   MOUTH. 


LAMPAS. 

This  term  is  used  to  designate  a  fullness  or  swelling  of  the 
bars  or  roof  of  the  mouth,  caused  by  the  cutting  of  the  teeth. 
Larapas  will  be  found  in  all  colts,  although  in  many  the  slight 
inconvenience  occasioned  by  it  attracts  little  or  no  attention. 
In  others,  however,  the  great  tenderness  of  the  parts  affected 
causes  the  animal  to  refuse  his  food,  in  consequence  of  which 
he  is  by  many  compelled  to  submit  to  an  operation  equally 
cruel  and  unnecessary — that  is,  no  less  than  burning  out  the 
bars  of  the  mouth  with  a  red-hot  iron,  thereby  destroying  the 
functions  of  the  part,  and  leaving  the  mouth  sore  for  some 
time  afterward.  This  mode  of  treatment  has  been  practised 
for  years,  and  is  even  at  the  present  day  almost  the  only  one 
in  vogue,  although  it  is  of  no  practical  benefit  whatever,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  is  often  very  injurious.  In  the  case  of  the 
child  similarly  affected,  the  humane  practitioner  seldom  does 
more  than  to  lance  the  gums.  This,  certainly,  is  a  more 
rational  mode  of  operating,  and  the  author's  experience  con- 
vinces him  that  if  the  parts  inflamed  in  the  case  of  the  horse 
be  simply  lanced,  the  swelling  will  soon  subside,  and  the  horse 
partake  of  his  food  as  usual.  A  common  pocket-knife  will 
answer  the  purpose  quite  well  3   and' after  the   lancing  the 


222  ULCERS   IN   THE   MOUTH. 

mouth  should  be  washed  with  a  solution  of  the  tincture  of 
myrrh,  two  ounces  to  a  pint  of  water,  or  a  solution  of  alum 
in  water.  This  should  be  repeated  twice  a  day  for  three  or 
four  days,  during  which  time  give  bran  mashes  or  flax-seed 
gruel,  and,  if  procurable,  a  small  quantity  of  new  grass.  No 
hay,  corn,  or  oats,  should  be  given  for  a  week ;  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  period  the  teeth  will  be  in  a  condition  to  masti- 
cate such  food. 


IITFLAMED    GUMS. 

Occasionally  the  gums  of  very  young  horses,  when  cutting 
their  teeth,  become  exceedingly  tender,  sore,  and  swollen. 
As  this  is  principally  confined  to  the  yearling,  it  is  generally 
overlooked  by  the  owner.  The  treatment  in  such  cases  is  to 
cut  the  gum  through  to  the  tooth  immediately  under  it  with 
a  lancet  or  common  pocket-knife.  The  gum  being  thus 
broken,  the  tooth  comes  through  with  little  pain. 


BAGS    OR    -WASHES. 

These  are  soft,  puffy  swellings  of  the  membrane  of  the 
mouth,  lining  the  lips,  just  within  the  corners  of  the  mouth. 
This  disease  is  generally  caused  by  the  bearing  rein  being  too 
tight.  They  are  cured  by  cutting  off  a  portion  of  the  swelling 
with  a  pair  of  scissors  or  a  knife ;  after  which  the  parts  should 
be  dressed  with  a  little  salt,  or  powdered  alum.  This  gener- 
ally proves  successful. 


ULCERS    IN"    THE    MOUTH. 
Horses,  during  the   process  of  breaking,  are  frequently  hurt 
by  the  pressure  of  the  bit  upon  the  under  jaw  a  little  in  front  of 


■ORE   MOUTH.  223 

the  first  molar  tooth  ;  in  consequence  of  which  the  periosteum, 
or  tliiu  fibrous  membrane  covering  the  bone,  often  becomes 
involved  in  the  inflammation,  the  bone  itself  not  always  escap- 
ing injury,  a  neglect  of  which  occasionally  causes  the  bone 
of  the  jaw  to  become  carious  or  decayed  ;  sinuses,  or  pipe-like 
openings,  are  sometimes  formed,  which  becoming  filled  with 
masticated  food,  become  fetid  and  often  occasion  troublesome 
sores.  Grooms  on  discovering  this  sore,  generally  attribute  it 
to  what  is  commonly  called  squirrel  grass,  or  wild  barley.  If 
the  sore  is  confined  to  the  gum  alone,  it  should  be  washed  fre- 
quently, and  dressed  with  a  little  tincture  of  myrrh ;  but  when 
the  bone  is  affected,  it  must  be  examined  carefiilly  with  a  probe, 
and  if  found  rough,  or  presenting  small  openings,  the  bone  must 
be  exposed,  and  all  the  diseased  parts  removed,  after  which  the 
tincture  of  myrrh  should  be  used  for  a  dressing.  Such  opera- 
tions should  be  performed  by  a  qualified  veterinary  surgeon,  if 
one  is  to  be  had  ;  otherwise  more  injury  may  be  done  by  the 
bungling  operator  than  would  be  occasioned  by  the  disease. 
If  such  services  cannot  be  procured,  caustic  silver,  or  lunar 
caustic,  should  be  applied  to  the  diseased  bone.  If  the  caustic 
is  not  readily  obtainable,  the  red-hot  iron  will  answer  the  pur- 
pose as  well,  or  even  better.  Butter  of  antimony,  placed  on  a 
little  cotton  or  tow,  and  packed  in  the  sore,  is  an  excellent 
application,  as  it  hastens  a  separation  or  exfoliation  of  the 
diseased  bone,  thus  enabling  the  parts  soon  to  heal. 

SORE    MOUTH. 
This  is  often  caused  by  the  bit's  cutting  or  bruising  the  lips 
at  the  angles  of  the  mouth.     In  carelessly  balling  horses,  also, 
the  under  part  of  the  tongue  sometimes  becomes  injured,  which 


224  XJNBVEN  TEETH. 

frequently  escapes  notice  until  the  animal  refuses  his  food, 
and  the  tongue  becomes  tender  and  swollen.  In  such  cases, 
wash  the  mouth  clean,  and  sprinkle  a  teaspoonful  of  table  salt 
on  the  sore ;  the  tincture  of  myrrh  occasionally  applied  will 
hasten  the  cure. 


CUT    TONGUE. 

The  tongue  sometimes  becomes  bruised  from  the  sudden 
jerking  of  the  lines  in  the  hands  of  a  careless  or  obstinate 
driver,  or  it  may  happen  from  tight  reining ;  that  portion  of 
the  tongue  upon  which  the  bit  rests  becoming  bruised  and 
ulcerated,  and  the  frequent  use  of  the  bit  keeping  up  the 
irritation,  until  the  tongue,  in  some  cases,  becomes  almost 
separated  by  ulceration  before  it  is  discovered.  Alum  water, 
saltpetre,  and  tincture  of  myrrh  are  the  proper  dressings. 


UNEVEN  TEETH. 

The  molar  teeth  frequently  become  very  uneven  upon  their 
faces  or  grinding  surfaces,  in  consequence  of  the  crusta  petrosa 
wearing  away  too  rapidly  and  often  leaving  deep  cavities  in  the 
teeth,  which  become  filled  with  food  and  soon  prove  a  great 
source  of  annoyance  by  interfering  with  proper  mastication. 
This  occurs  more  particularly  in  old  horses.  The  upper  molar 
teeth  being  well  protected  on  the  outer  surface  with  enamel, 
wear  less  rapidly  than  the  lower  ones  which  are  protected  upon 
the  inner  side.  In  consequence  of  this  the  upper  teeth  often 
become  very  sharp  upon  the  outside,  and  when  the  reins  are 
drawn  up  the  cheeks  are  forced  upon  these  sharp  edges  and 
become  sore  and  often  lacerated,  while  the  lower  ones  becoming 
sharp  on  the  inside  edges,  lacerate  the  tongue  in  a  similar 


QUIDDING.  S2$ 

manner.  The  horse  from  this  cause  often  refuses  his  food,  since 
mastication  causes  him  severe  pain.  He  soon  begins  to  lose 
flesh,  the  digestive  organs  become  deranged,  the  skin  becomes 
tight,  and  the  animal  is  perhaps  doctored  for  bots,  worms,  and 
the  like. 

In  all  these  cases  the  tooth-rasp  becomes  necessary,  which 
is  an  instrument  made  concave,  or  hollow,  upon  one  side,  and 
convex,  or  rounding,  on  the  other,  with  a  long  handle  attached. 
The  rasp  is  upon  the  hollow  side,  the  round  side  and  the  edges 
being  perfectly  smooth  so  as  not  to  wound  the  cheeks  or  tongue 
when  used.  With  this  instrument  the  sharp  corners  of  the  teeth 
are  easily  taken  off,  and  the  horse  is  enabled  to  feed  again  in 
the  proper  manner.  If  the  teeth  are  in  this  condition,  no 
medicine  is  of  any  avail ;  all  the  condition  powders  in  the  world 
will  not  benefit  in  the  slightest  degree  ;  the  tooth-rasp  is  the 
only  remedy  that  will  prove  serviceable. 


QUIDDI]SrG. 

This  disease,  if  disease  it  may  be  called,  is  generally  caused 
by  the  irregular  wear  of  the  teeth  already  mentioned  ;  or  it  may 
arise  from  caries  of  the  teeth,  or  from  a  diseased  state  of  the 
muscles  of  deglutition.  "I  have  seen,"  says  White,  "at  the 
kennel  the  jaw  of  a  horse  which  died  literally  from  starvation 
in  consequence  of  a  disease  of  the  grinding  teeth,  which  ap- 
peared to  have  been  brought  on  by  feeding  on  coarse  woody 
hay,  containing  the  stocks  of  thistles,  docks,  &c.  This  animal 
was  what  dealers  term  a  quidder,  for  the  muscles  of  deglutition 
were  at  least  so  affected  that  he  was  incapable  of  swallowing ; 
and  after  fruitless  attempts  to  chew  his  food  it  was  thrown  out 
liito  the  manger  in  a  ball  or  quid,  and  a  great  deal  of  imp«r- 
15 


226  WOLF   TEETH. 

fectly  chewed  hay  had  been  forced  into  the  cavities  formed  at 
the  roots  of  some  of  the  grinding  teeth."  The  tooth-rasp 
sometimes  proves  a  perfect  cure  in  such  cases. 

WOLF  TEETH. 

Very  erroneous  opinions  are  entertained  by  horsemen,  and 
even  by  veterinary  surgeons,  in  reference  to  these  teeth,  and 
various  theories  have  from  time  to  time  been  set  afloat  regard- 
ing them,  arising,  for  the  most  part,  from  a  want  of  proper  in- 
vestigation. 

These  teeth  are  natural  to  all  horses,  and  make  their  appear- 
ance between  the  first  and  fifth  year.  They  are  not  supernu- 
merary teeth,  as  has  been  stated  by  some  writers,  but  are 
natural  teeth  found  in  all  colts.  The  germs  of  these  teeth  will 
be  found  in  the  foal  at  birth,  and  developed  in  the  jaw  of  the 
yearling  ready  to  make  their  way  through  the  gums.  In  an 
examination  of  at  least  one  hundred  heads  of  colts  that  have 
died  under  eighteen  months  of  age,  the  author  has  found  in 
every  instance  either  natural  wolf  teeth,  or  the  germs  from 
which  they  are  developed.  It  is  a  mistaken  idea,  that  these 
teeth  exert  any  influence <over  the  eyes.  Nature  never  placed 
them  in  their  position  for  the  purpose  of  injury.  In  cases  where 
the  eye  is  supposed  to  be  affected  by  them,  it  is  simply  neces- 
sary to  treat  the  eye  for  inflammation,  and  allow  the  teeth  to 
remain.  As  a  general  rule  they  do  not  remain  in  the  jaw  long 
after  being  cut ;  having  performed  their  function,  whatever  it 
may  be,  they  fall  out  and  are  therefore  seldom  found.  Their 
removal  can  do  no  harm  but  it  is  an  entirely  unnecessary 
operation. 


CARIES   OP  THE  TJEETII. 


22T 


CARIES  OP  THE  TEETH. 
The  teeth  of  horses,  as  has  already  been  stated,  arc  made  up 
of  three  substances,  the  enamel,  the  bone,  and  the  crnsta  petrosa ; 
^fe^^B  ^"^  ^"  consequence  of  their  peculiar  arrangement 

^^|and  the  inability 
TiiOf  the  animal  to 
inform  us  of  his 
sufferings,  this  dis- 
ease frequently  be- 
comes much  more 
serious  than  in 
man.  Its  opera- 
tion, besi  dcs,  is 
quite  different 


THE   BLOODED    MARE   FASHION   AND   FOAL. 


upon  the  teeth  of  horses  from  what  it  is  upon  the  human  teeth. 
Ill  the  human  subject  caries  is  found,  in  a  large  majority  of 
cases,  making  its  appearance  as  a  dark  spot  between  the  teeth, 
on  one  side  of  the  crown,  gradually  working  inwards,  destroy- 
ing the  bone  in  its  progress,  and  leaving  the  enamel  a  mere 
shell  upon  the  outside  of  the  tooth,  while  the  roots  generally 
remain  in  a  comparatively  sound  condition  during  the  progress 
of  decay.  In  the  horse,  however,  caries  is  a  very  different  thing, 
as  far  as  its  effects  are  concerned.  It  makes  its  appearance 
upon  some  one  or  more  of  the  indentations  or  depressions  upon 
the  face  of  the  tooth,  attacking  the  crusta  petrosa,  (a  substance 
not  found  in  the  human  tooth,)  and  extending  from  the  face 
through  the  entire  length  of  the  tooth,  splitting  it  up  into 
several  thin  plates,  in  consequence  of  which  abscesses  often  form 
at  the  roots  of  such  teeth,  which,  being  prevented  from  dis 


228  CARIES   OF  THE   TEETH. 

charging  into  the  mouth  by  the  food  that  fills  up  the  cavity, 
generally  find  an  opening  into  the  nose,  "discharging  their  fetid 
matter  through  that  channel.  The  animal  while  in  this  condi- 
tion is  often  treated  for  catarrh,  commonly  called  distemper. 
The  discharge  still  continuing,  and  becoming  more  and  more 
fetid,  the  animal  is  at  last  supposed  to  be  in  a  glandered  con- 
diiion  and  killed. 

The  first  case  of  this  kind  which  came  under  the  author's 
notice  occurred  in  the  year  1853.  Having  occasion  to  visit  the 
yard  where  dead  animals  are  boiled,  the  peculiar  appearance  of 
one  horse  lying  upon  the  ground  attracted  his  attention.  Upon 
inquiry  he  learned  that  he  had  been  killed  as  a  glandered  horse; 
but  failing  to  recognize  any  such  marks  as  might  be  expected 
in  that  disease,  he  made  a  very  careful  examination  of  the  head 
and  found  the  real  cause  of  trouble  to  be,  not  glanders,  but  a 
carious  tooth,  of  which  but  three  small  ribbon-like  fragments 
remained.  This  horse  was  but  seven  years  old.  An  abscess 
had  formed  at  the  root  of  the  tooth,  discharging  itself  into  the 
nostril,  whence  it  was  ejected.  Another  horse,  with  similar 
symptoms,  pronounced  glandered  by  two  eminent  veterinary  sur- 
geons, w^as  destroyed  at  the  same  place  in  the  year  1859.  The 
author's  examination  disclosed  the  fact,  that  the  first  two  molar 
teeth  were  almost  entirely  destroyed  by  caries,  and  that  a  large 
abscess  had  formed  at  their  roots,  which  extended  into  and 
completely  closed  up  one  nostril,  causing  an  immense  tumor  on 
the  right  side  of  the  head. 

The  difficulty  of  examining  the  molar  teeth  of  the  horse,  to- 
gether with  the  silence  of  veterinary  authors  on  this  important 
subject,  are  the  only  assignable  reasons  for  the  little  informa- 
tion given  us  relative  to  a  disease  of  such  common  occurrence. 


CARIES   OF   THE   TEETH.  229 

Indeed,  the  author  has  frequently  been  called  upon  to  treat 
horses  laboring  under  this  disease,  without  a  suspicion  ever 
being  entertained  of  its  true  nature. 

A  ease  of  this  kind  came  under  his  notice  in  the  winter  of 
1858,  while  on  a  visit  to  Jackson,  Michigan.  He  was  called 
to  see  a  bay  mare  kept  for  livery  purposes,  having  a  discharge 
from  the  right  side  of  the  face  some  two  inches  below  the  eye, 
which  had  existed  for  about  two  years.  The  discharge  was  of 
so  fetid  a  character  that  the  animal  was  rendered  unfit  for  use, 
and  she  was  consequently  turned  upon  the  common  to  die  or 
get  well,  as  the  chances  might  be,  all  known  modes  of  treatment 
having  been  previously  adopted  without  any  beneficial  results. 
He  discovered,  upon  examination,  a  carious  tooth,  which  was 
removed,  and  in  a  short  time  the  animal  became  well.  During 
the  winter  of  1859,  a  brown  mare,  belonging  to  a  gentleman  in 
Germantown,  Pennsylvania,  was  sent  to  the  Clinic  of  the  Phi- 
ladelphia Veterinary  College,  having  been  pronounced  glanderec^ 
by  a  veterinary  surgeon  and  ordered  to  be  killed.  Upon  ex-. 
amination  a  large  abscess  was  discovered  opening  into  the  nose, 
together  with  two  carious  teeth — thv3  first  and  second  molars  of 
the  right  side.  The  mare  was  cast,  and  ten  pieces  of  carious 
teeth  removed ;  the  cavity  was  then  well  cleaned  out,  and  tow 
saturated  with  tincture  of  myrrh  filled  in,  removing  and  cleaning 
every  day.  Some  four  weeks  subsequently,  the  animal  was  sold 
for  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  sound  as  a  bell ;  though  pre- 
viously to  this  operation  she  could  not  have  been  sold  at  any 
price.  Many  similar  cases  could  be  mentioned,  but  the  fore- 
going will  serve  to  show  the  necessity  of  making  a  thorough 
examination  of  an  animal  before  pronouncing  sentence  of  death 
upon  it. 


230  EXTRACTING   TEETH. 

Acidity  of  the  fluids  of  the  mouth  is  generally — and,  as  tho 
author  believes,  correctly — assigned  as  the  cause  of  caries  of  the 
teeth.  The  symptoms  are  fetid  discliarges  from  the  nose,  ob- 
structed respiration,  improper  mastication  of  the  food,  passing 
the  oats  or  corn  whole,  qnidding,  drowsiness,  loss  of  flesh, 
staring  coat,  hide-bound,  tossing  to  and  fro  of  the  head,  stop- 
ping short  on  the  road,  starting  suddenly,  and  at  times  becomiisg 
almost  frantic.  All  these  symptoms,  however,  must  not  be 
expected  to  be  found  in  the  same  case,  as  different  horses  are 
differently  affected  by  the  disease.  One  is  drowsy,  feeds  daintily 
at  times,  and  again  ravenously ;  another  is  at  times  wild,  so  as 
to  be  almost  unmanageable.  Many  of  these  symptoms  occur  in 
other  diseases  besides  those  of  the  teeth  ;  but  their  presence 
suggests  the  necessity  for  an  examination  of  the  mouth,  and 
particularly  of  the  molar  teeth,  which  may  be  done  by  passing 
the  hand  along  the  upper  molar  teeth  inside  of  the  cheek,  thus 
enabling  the  examiner  to  detect  the  presence  of  caries  without 
difficulty. 


EXTKACTING  TEETH. 
When  a  carious  tooth,  or  one  so  unequally  worn  as  to  cause 
mischief,  is  discovered,  its  removal  is  necessary  to  the  restora- 
tion of  the  animal's  health.  In  order  to  accomplish  this,  the 
horse  must  be  cast,  and  the  age  of  the  animal  considered,  in 
order  to  make  choice  of  proper  instruments.  If  he  is  young, 
say  from  four  to  six  years,  an  instrument  made  similur  to  the 
key  used  by  surgeon  dentists,  is  the  best  adapted;  if  he  is  old, 
a  pair  of  forceps  of  large  size,  made  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
tooth-forceps  of  dentists,  will  answer,  as  the  roots  of  the  teeth 
in  old  horses  are  comparatively  short,  and  therefore  may  be 
easily  extracted. 


INFLAMMATION.  281 


DISEASES  OF  THE  RESPIRATORY  ORGANS 


INFLAMMATION. 

The  diseases  of  the  respiratory  organs  and  air  passages  are 
generally  of  an  inflammatory  type.  In  order  to  fully  under- 
stand the  various  diseases  to  which  these  important  organs  are 
subject,  a  few  remarks  regarding  the  nature  of  inflammation,  its 
progress,  &c.,  may  not  be  out  of  place  in  a  work  like  the 
present. 

Inflammation,  then,  is  a  state  of  altered  nutrition,  an  increased 
vascularity  and  sensibility  of  the  parts  involved,  together  with 
a  tendency  to  change  of  structure.  The  symptoms  are  swelling, 
pain,  heat,  and  redness  where  the  parts  are  not  covered  with 
hair.  The  redness  is  in  consequence  of  a  redundancy  of  blood 
in  the  inflamed  part,  which  distends  the  small  capillaries  with 
red  particles  of  blood.  When  the  inflammation  is  acute,  the 
parts  present  a  bright  red  or  crimson  hue  ;  when  it  is  chronic, 
they  are  of  a  dark  or  purplish  red  color.  As  the  various  terras 
employed  by  authors  to  indicate  the  various  degrees  are  unin- 
teresting to  the  general  reader,  no  attempt  at  detail  is  here 
made. 

The  sensation  of  pain  is  mainly  due  to  a  stretching  of  the 
nerves  by  the  distended  blood-vessels.  It  difi'ers  in  its  char- 
acter and  intensity  according  to  the  parts  involved,  varying 
from  a  burning,  throbbing,  sharp,  and  lacerating  pain  to  a 
mere  sense  of  heat,  soreness,  and  a  dull  sensation  of  pain.  The 
heat  in  inflammation  is  supposed  to  arise  from  an  increased 
quantity  of  blood  in  \he  inflamed  part.  The  swelling  in  the 
early  stage  is  dae   lo   the   iJicreascd  quantity  of  blood,   and 


232  «ORE  THROAT. 

afterward  to  the  effusion  which  takes  place  in  all  loose  tissues. 
By  inflammation  all  the  various  structures  of  the  animal 
economy  may  "be  so  altered  as  to  interfere  with  the  perform- 
ance of  their  natural  functions ;  in  some  cases  by  a  permanent 
thickening  of  the  parts,  and  in  others  by  adhesion  and  the  like. 
By  the  aid  of  auscultation,  that  is,  the  application  of  the 
ear  to  the  parts  to  be  examined,  the  slightest  change  in  the 
normal  and  healthy  condition  of  the  respiratory  organs  may 
be  detected,  and  the  various  parts  involved  in  inflammatory 
action  may  be  pointed  out  with  a  considerable  degree  of  cer- 
tainty. With  thus  much  of  introduction  we  proceed  to  tha 
consideration  of  the  various  diseases  naturally  falling  under  ouy 
present  division. 


SOKE    THROAT. 

Sore  throat  is  a  common   attendant  upon  catarrhal  affec- 
tions.    When  it  is  confined  to  that  portion  of  the  throat  at 

the  root  of  the 
tongue,  which  ia 
known  to  medica] 
men  as  the  larynx, 
^  it  is  called  laryng. 
itis ;  and  this  pari 
is  the  commot 
seat  of  this  dia 
ease,  from  whicl, 
it  extends   down 

THE  SADDLE  HOBSE.  ^^^        ^^^^^^^^        ^ 

windpipe,  to  the  lungs.     As  long  as  the  throat  remains  ver;;; 
sx>re,  it  is  a  pretty  good  evidence  that  the  lungs  are  not  affecte(J- 


SORE  THROAT.  233 

This  disease  may  exist  either  in  an  acute,  sub-acute,  or  chronic 
form.  When  acute,  its  management  is  simple  and  usually  suc- 
cessful ;  but  if  it  is  neglected  in  this  early  stage,  it  not  unfre- 
quently  proves  troublesome,  and  in  some  cases  leaves  the 
animal  permanently  unsound,  terminating  in  wheezing,  whist- 
ling, roaring,  or  broken-wiudedness. 

The  symptoms  of  sore  throat  are  easily  detected  by  the  or- 
dinary observer.  According  to  the  intensity  of  the  disease 
there  is  an  accumulation  of  saliva  in  the  mouth,  clear,  thick, 
and  stringy,  more  particularly  when  the  tongue  is  swollen  ;  a 
stiffness  of  the  head,  the  horse  coughing  upon  the  slightest 
pressure  on  the  larynx ;  difficulty  in  swallowing,  more  par- 
ticularly hard  grain  or  hay,  and  a  consequent  refusal  of  food 
altogether;  a  short,  hard  eough;  more  or  less  copious  dis- 
charges from  the  nose,  as  the  disease  advances ;  an  accelerated 
pulse,  frequently  rising  to  ninety  or  one  hundred  pulsations  in 
a  minute ;  mouth  hot,  with  considerable  fever  accompanying. 

For  treatment,  apply  strong  mustard,  mixed  with  water  to 
the  thickness  of  cream,  to  the  throat,  rub  it  well  in,  and 
repeat  as  often  as  may  be  necessary  ;  or  poultice  the  part  with 
flaxseed  meal  for  several  days,  and  sprinkle  on  the  tongue  a 
teaspoonful  of  common  table  salt,  three  or  four  times  a  day, 
which  in  ordinary  cases  is  all  the  treatment  which  v,'ill  be 
necessary  for  the  acute  type  of  the  disease. 

The  attention  of  the  veterinary  surgeon  is  more  frequently 
called  to  chronic  forms  of  this  disease,  in  which,  though  no 
swelling  of  the  parts  is  usually  perceptible,  a  pressure  upon 
the  larynx  at  once  excites  a  hard  cough.  In  this  stage  of  the 
disease  much  relief  will  be  obtained  by  the  application  of  a 
felister,  prepared  as  follows  :   Pulverized  cantharides  (Spanish 


234  STRANGLES. 

flies)  half  an  ounce ;  of  lard,  one  and  a  half  ounces ;  mixed 
well,  and  as  thin  as  may  be  desired  with  spirits  of  turpentine. 
This  must  be  well  rubbed  in,  and  after  it  has  acted  thoroughly, 
dress  with  sweet  oil  or  lard. 


STRANGLES. 

This  is  but  another  form  or  stage  of  laryngitis.  The  throat 
becomes  enormously  swollen,  the  swelling  extending  under  th» 
jaws  and  up  to  the  very  ears,  threatening  suffocation  ;  then 
respiration  becomes  much  disturbed ;  the  flanks  heave  violently, 
and  the  breathing  can  be  heard  at  a  considerable  distance ; 
the  animal  begins  to  sweat  from  his  frequently  convulsive 
efforts  to  breathe,  and,  if  not  speedily  relieved,  dies  a  most 
violent  death. 

Life  may  be  saved  by  the  veterinary  surgeon  at  this  crisis 
by  the  operation  of  bronchotomy,  that  is,  by  opening  the 
windpipe,  and  inserting  a  tube  through  which  the  animal  may 
breathe  instead  of  through  the  nose.  This  operation  affords 
instant  relief,  and  gives  an  opportunity  to  apply  remedies  to 
the  diseased  throat,  which  in  a  few  days  usually  effect  a  cure, 
when  the  tube  may  be  removed.  The  author  has  never  lost 
a  case  where  he  has  resorted  to  this  operation. 

The  early  treatment  of  this  disease  is  to  poultice  the  throat 
well  with  flaxseed  meal,  commonly  called  cake-meal  or  oil-cake, 
using  salt  upon  the  tongue  as  before.  Mustard  plasters  are 
also  very  effective,  and  steaming  the  nostrils  frequently  affords 
relief.  As  soon  as  the  swelling  permits,  it  should  be  lanced ; 
and  when  it  has  once  discharged  freely,  the  animal  may  be 
considered  out  of  danger,  provided  proper  care  be  taken  to 
guard  against  a  relapse.     A  seton  applied  between  the  jaws 


CHRONIC   COUGH.  235 

often  relieves ;  but  these  cases  are  safer  in  the  hands  of  a  com- 
petent surgeon.  Under  no  circumstances  of  this  disease  should 
the  animal  be  bled. 

Malignant  or  putrid  sore  throat,  is  fortunately  but  little 
known  in  the  United  States,  the  author  not  being  aware  of 
its  existence  in  any  portion.  Cases  presenting  somewhat 
similar  symptoms  have  been  found  upon  examination  to  differ 
in  a  marked  degree  from  those  which  accompany  this  form 
of  disease  as  they  are  laid  down  in  the  works  of  foreign 
authors.  A  detailed  description  of  this  type  of  the  disease  is 
therefore  deemed  unnecessary  in  the  present  treatise. 


CHRONIC    COUGH. 

This  arises  from  various  causes,  and  is  present  in  a  number 
of  diseases.     It  is  often  symptomatic  of  some  affection  of  the 
lungs  and  air  passages  ;  and  it  sometimes  exists  apparently  as 
an  independent  affection,  the  animal  thriving  well,  and  retain- - 
ing  uitimpaired  his  appetite  and  spirits. 

If  it  arises  from  irritation  of  the  larynx,  or  upper  part  of 
the  throat,  a  few  applications  of  mustard  will  be  beneficial ; 
if  from  worms  in  the  stomach  or  intestines,  treat  as  directed 
under  the  head  of  "  Worms."  If  it  exists  without  any  appar- 
ent connection,  or  as  the  termination  of  disease  previously 
existing,  give  every  night  in  a  bran  mash  one  of  these  pow- 
ders :  of  sulphate  of  copper  (blue  vitriol),  digitalis  (fox-glove), 
pulverized  squills,  nitre,  and  camphor,  each  one  ounce  ;  to 
be  made  into  ten  powders.  Green  food,  as  carrots,  potatoes, 
turnips,  or  parsnips,  should  be  given  when  procurable. 


236  CATARRH.  ^^\, 

CATAKRH. 

This  disease,  commonly  called  a  cold,  is  confined  in  ordinary 
cases  to  the  lining  membrane  of  the  aose  and  neighboring  parts ; 
but  in  severe  cases  the  inflammation  sometimes  extends  down 
the  air  passages  to  the  lungs,  frequently  resulting  fatally.  In 
the  spring  of  the  year  this  disease  frequently  appears  in  an  epi- 
zootic form,  when  the  symptoms  are  more  alarming  and  the 
termination  more  generally  fatal. 

If  the  inflammation  is  confined  to  the  nostrils,  the  membrane 
lining  those  cavities  is  reddened,  a  thin  watery  or  mucous  dis- 
charge from  the  nostrils  takes  place,  accompanied  with  frequent 
sneezing ;  if  the  larynx  is  involved,  there  are  cough,  swellings 
underneath  the  jaws,  etc. 

Some  authors  recommend  bleeding  in  this  affection ;  but  such 
an  abuse  of  the  lancet  can  do  no  good,  and  is  often  productive 
of  much  harm.  If  the  symptoms  are  slight,  one  of  the  follow- 
ing powders  given  night  and  morniDg  will  be  all  that  is  re- 
quired: of  saltpetre  two  ounces;  of  pulverized  Jamaica  ginger 
one  ounce  ;  mixed,  and  divided  into  eight  powders.  If  there  is 
swelling  under  the  jaws,  poultice  the  throat  with  flixseed  meal ; 
if  much  discharge  from  the  nostrils,  steam  them  well  with  boil- 
ing water  poured  upon  bran.  If  the  inflammation  exhibits  any 
tendency  to  extend  down  the  windpipe,  apply  a  blister  all  along 
the  neck  over  the  windpipe  from  the  throat  to  the  breast,  giving 
one  of  the  following  balls  night  and  morning ;  of  nitrate  of 
potassa  and  pulverized  gentian  root,  each  one  ounce;  Jamaica 
ginger  and  carav/ay  seeds,  each  half  an  ounce  ;  mix  with 
molasses  and  divide  into  six  balls.  If  the  discharge  from  the 
nose  continues,  the  animal  losing  flesh,  and  the  appetite  being 


INFLUENZA. 


2.^T 


impaired,  give  one  of  the  following  powders  in  the  feed  night 
and  morning  :  sulphate  of  copper  one  ounce  ;  pulverized  gentian 
root  one  and  a  half  ounces  ;  pulverized  ginger  six  drachms ; 
mix  and  divide  into  eight  powders.     Good  wholesome  food  only 


should  be  given. 


DISTEMPER. 

All  catarrhal  affections  are  classed  by  horse-owners  under 
the  common  head  of  distemper.  Common  catarrh,  epizootic  or 
epidemic  catarrh,  laryngitis,  bronchitis,  and  all  other  diseases 
accompanied  by  nasal  discharges,  are  regarded  by  horsemen 
generally  as  one  and  the  same  disease. 


INFLUENZA. 

For  several  years  past  a  disease  has  been  more  or  less  preva- 
lent in  various  sections  of  the  United  States,  known  to  the 

^^^r^"^:^^-—  "^^^^^^"^^T  profession  as 
^\^     /*  w7~T  epizootic  (epidemic)  ca- 
tarrh, or  influ- 
enza.    The 
symptoms    of 
this  disease 
iare  so  various 
in   different 
animals,    no    two 
being    precisely 
alike,  that  a  vari- 
ety of  opinions  are  current 

QCIET   ENJOYMENT.  J  *• 

concerning  it  and  its  nature,  and,  as  a  consequence,  various 
other  diseases  are  often  confounded  with  it. 


238  INFLUENZA. 

In  the  year  1855,  this  disease  made  its  appearance  in  the 
stables  of  one  of  the  largest  omnibus  proprietors  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  some  nine  horses  died  in  about  two  weeks.  These 
were  supposed  to  have  been  foundered,  and  were  treated  for 
that  disease.  A  careful  examination,  however,  by  a  competent 
practitioner  revealed  the  true  nature  of  the  disease,  and  under 
proper  treatment  the  balance  of  the  stock  was  saved.  Shortly 
after  the  demand  for  veterinary  surgeons  was  very  great,  and 
while  they  saved  forty-eight  out  of  every  fifty  cases,  the  farrier 
lost  almost  every  case  he  attempted  to  treat,  principally  from 
his  too  common  practice  of  bleeding  and  purging  ;  thus  reducing 
the  system  so  low  that  nature  became  exhausted. 

This  disease  is  called  by  horsemen  pink-eye  distemper,  and  is 
by  many  regarded  incurable,  though  the  author  knows  of  no 
disease  that  more  readily  yields  to  proper  treatment,  and  in  his 
own  practice  he  has  been  eminently  successful  in  accomplishing 
a  cure.  It  commences  with  slight  watery  or  thin  mucous  dis- 
charges from  the  nostrils  ;  matter  collecting  in  the  inner  corner 
of  the  eyes  ;  eye-lid  on  the  inner  side  of  a  very  slight  or  yellow^ 
ish  red  color ;  pulse  feeble,  with  occasional  paralysis  of  the 
hind  extremities ;  sore  throat ;  excessive  debility  ;  membrane 
of  the  nose  much  reddened  ;  hard  cough  ;  heart  sometimes  vio- 
lently agitated  ;  flanks  heaving;  and  feet  sometimes  hot ;  thus 
producing  all  the  symptoms  of  founder. 

For  treatment,  never  bleed,  as  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  the 
animal  dies.  If  inflammation  runs  high,  as  it  sometimes  does, 
use  for  several  days  the  following  :  of  tartar  emetic  and  nitrate 
of  potash,  each  two  drachms,  made  into  a  ball  with  molasses 
and  given  at  night.  Give  also  in  a  pail  of  water  one  ounce  of 
spirits  of  nitre  twice  a  day ;  or,  if  more  convenient,  tw^o  drachma 


INFLUEXZA.  230 

of  the  extract  of  belladonna  (nightsbade)  dissolved  in  the  water. 
When  the  inflammation  is  reduced,  give  one  of  the  following 
balls  night  and  morning  :  of  pulverized  gentian  root  and  nitrate 
of  potassa,  each  an  ounce ;  pulverized  Jamaica  ginger,  half  an 
ounce;  ground  fenugreek  seeds  six  drachms  ;  mix  with  molasses, 
and  divide  into  eight  balls.  In  pure  cases  of  debility  (this 
being  one  of  the  serious  symptoms  of  the  disease),  or  in  the 
early  stages,  previous  to  extensive  inflammation  being  established, 
one  of  the  following  should  be  given  twice  a  day  : — sulphate  of 
iron  (green  vitriol)  two  ounces  ;  pulverized  ginger  one  ounce  ; 
pulverized  gentian  root  two  ounces  ;  mix  with  molasses,  and 
divide  into  eight  balls.  In  cases  where  the  lungs  are  affected, 
give  the  following  ball  twice  a  day  :  of  tartar  emetic  and  pulver- 
ized digitalis  (foxglove)  each  one  scruple  ;  nitrate  of  potash  three 
drachms;  mix  with  molasses.  Linseed  tea,  or  oat-meal  gruel 
should  be  given  frequently.  No  hay  should  be  given,  unless 
the  bowels  are  in  good  condition.  If  the  liver  is  affected — 
which  may  be  known  by  the  yellow  tinge  of  the  mucous  mem- 
brane, dung  small  and  hard,  horse  lying  on  his  side,  and  occa- 
sionally looking  at  his  side  as  if  in  pain,  with  occasional  fits  of 
uneasiness — tlie  following  may  be  given,  but  must  not  be  re- 
peated ;  of  Barbadoes  aloes  three  drachms,  calomel  and  pulver- 
ized digitalis  each  half  a  drachm ;  make  into  a  ball  with  molasses. 
In  all  these  cases  where  thel'e  is  soreness  or  swelling  of  the 
throat,  the  parts  should  be  freely  blistered  ;  and  the  sides  also, 
if  the  lungs  are  involved.  This  mode  of  treatment  has  proved 
very  successful  in  the  author's  practice. 


=$40  bronchitis. 

buowchitis. 

The  larynx  (upper  part  of  the  windpipe),  the  trachea  (wind- 
pipe), and  the  bronchial  tubes  (branches  from  the  trachea  into 
the  lungs  for  the  passage  of  air),  are  lined  by  one  continuous 
membrane,  called  the  mucous  membrane,  which  secretes  a  thin 
mucous  substance  that  always  keeps  the  parts  soft  and  moist. 
When  this  membrane  becomes  inflamed,  the  disease  is  named 
according  to  its  location.  If  it  is  confined  to  the  larynx  (as 
has  been  before  observed),  it  is  termed  laryngitis ;  if  to  the 
windpipe,  trachitis ;  and  if  to  the  bronchial  tubes,  bronchitis. 
The  trachea  and  bronchia  are  rarely  diseased  separately,  the 
inflammation  generally  extending  from  one  to  the  other.  We 
shall  therefore  treat  of  bronchitis  as  embracing  trachitis  like- 
wise. Even  this  disease  rarely  exists  unmixed  with  others,  in 
consequences  of  which  it  is  often  overlooked,  or  confounded 
with  other  diseases  of  a  pulmonary  character. 

Bronchitis  is  generally  preceded  by  a  shivering  fit ;  mouth 
hot,  with  more  or  less  saliva;  discharge  from  the  nose;  cough; 
sore  throat ;  fever ;  short  breathing ;  loss  of  appetite ;  accele- 
rated pulse ;  and  membrane  of  nose  and  eyelids  reddened. 

In  treating  this  disease  it  is  much  safer  to  call  in  the  veteri- 
nary surgeon,  in  consequence  of  the  difficulty  which  the  ordi- 
nary observer  will  experience  in  distinguishing  it  from  other 
pulmonary  diseases,  and  from  the  fact  that  the  treatment 
varies  with  the  changes  that  take  place  in  the  progress  of  the 
disease.  It  is  not  necessarily  fatal ;  yet  the  most  trifling  neg- 
lect or  mistake  in  treatment  may  make  it  so.  The  average  loss, 
if  proper  treatment  is  pursued,  is  not  more  than  five  per  cent. 
Resort  should  never  be  had  to  bleeding  in  any  form  which  the 


NASAL   GLEET.  241 

disease  may  assume,  although  such  treatment  has  been  recom- 
mended by  the  highest  authorities. 

If  mnch  fever  is  present,  give  the  following  ball :  of  nitre 
two  drachms ;  pulverized  digitalis  and  tartar  emetic  each  half 
a  drachm  ;  solution  of  gum  arabic  sufficient  to  make  the  ball. 
This  may  be  repeated  if  the  desired  effect  is  not  produced  in 
twelve  hours.  Apply  to  the  throat,  sides,  and  along  the 
spine,  strong  mustard  mixed  with  water  to  the  consistence  of 
cream,  which  may  be  repeated  as  often  as  necessary.  The  fly 
blister  is  also  recommended ;  but  the  author  prefers  mustard, 
as  being  so  much  quicker  in  its  action.  After  the  inflamma- 
tion has  subsided,  give  one  of  the  following  powders  twice  a 
day  :  of  pulverized  gentian  root  and  nitre,  each  one  ounce  ; 
pulverized  Jamaica  ginger,  half  an  ounce;  caraway  seeds  six 
drachms.  This  course  of  treatment  is  perfectly  safe  in  the 
hands  of  any  horseman,  though  it  will  not  reach  all  stages  of 
the  disease  ;  nor  can  any  general  directions  be  given  better 
calculated  to  warrant  a  successful  issue  in  these  cases. 


WASAli    GLEET. 

"Nasal  gleet  is  the  name  here  given  to  those  discharges  from 
the  nose,  which  are  commonly  preceded  by  some  inflammatory 
or  catarrhal  attack  of  the  air  passages,  in  particular  those  of 
the  head ;  though  there  occur  examples  of  their  appearing 
without  any  such  detectible  precursors,  originating,  indeed, 
without  any  visible  or  apparent  cause  whatever ;  in  most  cases 
they  are  apt  to  continue  long  after  all  signs  of  inflammation  have 
died  away.  Gleet  is  more  likely  to  supervene  after  a  chronic, 
than  after  an  acute,  attack  of  catarrh,  and  to  show  itself  in  an 


242  NASAL  GLEET. 

adult  or  aged  horse  rather  than  in  the  young  subject.  Some- 
times the  discharge  comes  from  one  nostril  alone ;  more  usually 
from  both.  Sometimes  the  submaxillary  glands  (glands  under 
the  jaws),  remain  tumefied,  and  sometimes  they  are  not.  The 
Schneiderian  membrane  (membrane  of  the  nose)  discolored  by 
inflammatory  action,  has  become  pallid  and  leaden-hued,  but 
is  free  from  all  pustular  or  ulcerative  indications.  The  dis- 
charged matter  varies  in  quantity  and  quality  in  different  in- 
dividuals, and  even  in  the  same  horse  at  different  stages  of 
this  disease.  The  ordinary  gleet  consists  of  a  matter  more 
mucous  than  purulent,  remarkable  for  its  whiteness,  about  the 
thickness  of  cream,  and  in  some  cases  is  smooth  and  uniform, 
in  others  clotty  or  lumpy ;  in  other  cases  it  is  yellow,  and 
appears  to  contain  in  its  composition  more  pus  than  mucus. 
At  one  time  it  will  collect  about  the  nostrils,  and  become 
ejected  in  flakes  or  masses  in  pretty  regular  succession ;  at 
another  time  there  is  a  good  deal  of  irregularity  in  this  re- 
spect, the  running  from  the  nose  ceasing  altogether  for  a 
while,  as  though  the  animal  were  cured,  and  then  returning 
with  double  or  treble  force.  Sometimes  fetor  is  an  offensive 
accompaniment  of  the  discharge ;  at  other  times  no  fetor  is 
perceptible.  The  health  does  not  suffer  in  the  least ;  on  the 
contrary,  it  is  one  of  the  indications  of  this  disease,  that  the 
horse  eats  and  drinks,  and  has  his  spirits,  as  well  as  though 
he  were  quite  free  from  complaint. 

Formerly,  these  cases  were  considered  to  be  evidences  of 
glanders,  and  were  called  chronic  glanders ;  many  a  horse 
having  been  destroyed  under  this  mistaken  impression.  That 
a  case  of  the  kind  might  not  turn  to  glanders,  is,  perhaps, 
more  than  can  be  asserted  with  certainty ;  but  that,  so  long  as 


PNEUMONIA.  243 

it  continues  gleet,  it  is  not  glanders,  I  am  fully  persuaded ; 
and  to  show  that  it  is  not,  I  have  been  in  more  than  one  in- 
stance successful  in  bringing  the  case  to  a  favorable  issue." 
[Percival's  Hippopathology.] 

The  treatment  recommended  by  veterinary  writers  has  not 
been  found  successful  in  the  author's  practice  ;  nor,  indeed,  do 
they  themselves  appear  to  have  encountered  any  better  for- 
tune. That  which  has  proved  efiBcacious  has,  in  all  cases,  been 
strictly  tonic.  Give  the  following  powder  night  and  morning 
for  a  month  :  of  sulphate  of  copper  (blue  vitriol),  half  a 
drachm ;  pulverized  gentian  root,  two  drachms ;  pulverized 
ginger,  one  drachm ;  mix  for  one  dose  :  or,  give  night  and 
morning,  mixed  in  the  feed,  half-drachm  doses  of  powdered  nux 
vomica  (commonly  called  Quaker  button).  There  is  no 
danger  in  giving  this  preparation  to  a  horse,  provided  he  does 
not  have  water  for  some  time  afterward,  say  half  an  hour ,'  and 
it  very  rarely  fails. 


PNEUMONIA. 

By  pneumonia,  or  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  is  meant  either 
a  highly  congested  or  an  inflammatory  condition  of  the  lungs, 
arising  from  various  causes,  as  high  feeding,  blanketing,  close 
or  badly  ventilated  stables,  violent  or  extraordinary  exercise, 
or  sudden  changes  from  heat  to  cold.  Cold  applied  to  the 
external  surface  of  a  heated  animal  drives  the  blood  from  the 
skin  to  the  internal  organs,  often  causing  congestion  of  the 
lungs.  Pulmonary  diseases  are  more  prevalent  in  the  spring 
and  fall,  particularly  if  the  weather  be  cold  and  damp. 

This  disease  is  generally  ushered  in  by  a  shivering  fit ;  the 
horse  is  sometimes  attacked  very  suddenly  ;  he  refuses  his  food ; 


244  PNEUMONIA. 

the  respiration  becomes  disturbed,  sometimes  suddenly,  at 
other  times  more  slowly;  legs,  ears,  and  muzzle  cold;  cough 
sometimes  present ;  staring  coat ;  membrane  of  nose  reddened 
or  leadened-hued ;  the  animal  hangs  his  head  in  or  under  the 
manger,  stands  with  his  feet  wide  apart,  remaining  in  one 
position  with  no  inclination  to  move.  The  pulse  varies  very 
much  ;  it  is  sometimes  full  and  quick,  at  other  times  weak  and 
scarcely  perceptible. 

In  these  cases  auscultation  is  found  of  the  ^M 
greatest  advantage  in  enabling  one  to  g- 
detect  to  a  certainty  the   true  condi-  g 
tion   of   the   parts  ^^S 
affected.       If    the  M 
attack    is    sudden,  M 
coming     on     after  kI 
any    violent    exer- 
cise,   and    the  pulse  is  J| 
quick,  weak,  and  scarce- 
ly   perceptible  ;    by   the  the  bunnikq  horse  Lexington. 

application  of  the  ear  to  the  animal's  side  the  case  is 
decided,  in  the  absence  of  all  sounds,  to  be  one  of  conges- 
tive pneumonia.  In  all  these  cases  the  less  medicine  which 
is  used  the  better;  they  require  the  free  use  of  the  lancet, 
which  must  be  promptly  applied,  or  the  animal  dies.  Blood 
must  be  taken  until  the  animal  begins  to  show  symptoms 
of  weakness;  after  which  place  him  in  a  cool  box  with  a 
pail  of  water,  but  nothing  else,  before  him,  the  fresh  air 
being  all  the  medicine  required.  He  will  either  speedily  re- 
cover, or  inflammation  of  the  lungs  will  ensue.  A  second 
bleeding,  notwithstanding  the  inflammatory  action,  is  positively 


PLEURISY.  245 

injurious.  As  the  disease  assumes  an  inflammatory  character, 
the  breathing  becomes  more  disturbed,  the  mouth  hot,  flanks 
heaving,  and  the  nostrils  expand  and  contract  violently. 
Blisters  must  now  be  applied  to  the  sides  and  breast,  and 
those  which  will  act  quickly.  The  author  prefers  the  follow- 
ing :  of  pulverized  cantharides  half  an  ounce  ;  lard  one  ounce  ; 
eroton  oil  twenty  drops ;  linseed  oil  sufficient  to  make  it 
liquid.  Divide  the  following  into  five  parts,  and  give  one 
part  internally  every  two  hours :  liquor  ammonia  acetatis 
twelve  ounces  ;  extract  of  belladonna  one  ounce  ;  water  one 
pint.  If  there  is  no  improvement  in  twelve  hours,  give  one 
scruple  of  white  hellebore  with  three  drachms  of  nitre  every 
four  hours  until  its  action  is  manifest.  This  remedy,  however, 
is  a  dangerous  one  in  the  hands  of  any  but  the  qualified  prac- 
titioner. Instead  of  it,  the  tincture  of  aconite  may  be  used — 
indeed,  it  is  one  of  the  very  best  remedies.  Take  of  tincture 
of  aconite  half  an  ounce  to  an  ounce  of  water  ;  give  twenty 
drops  on  the  tongue  every  three  hours.  Active  purgatives 
should  not  be  given  ;  injections,  however,  are  very  useful. 
The  horse  should  be  kept  on  a  low  diet  for  a  few  days,  as 
bran  mashes,  carrots,  or  green  food  ;  but  no  hay  should  be 
allowed,  and  a  pail  of  water  should  be  kept  before  him.  This 
is  regarded  by  the  author  in  all  inflammatory  diseases  as  one 
of  our  best  medicines. 


PLEumsT. 
By  pleurisy  is  meant  an  inflammation  of  the  pleura,  or  mem- 
brane covering  the  lungs  and  internal  walls  of  the  chest,  without 
the  lungs  being  involved  in  the  inflammation  ;  when,  however, 
they  partake  of  its  inflammatory  action,  it  is  styled  pleuro- 


246  PLEURISY. 

pneumonia.  The  former  disease  rarely  exists  in  a  pure  form  ; 
and  as  in  a  work  like  the  present  it  is  unnecessary  to  consider 
the  delicately  drawn  distinctions  between  the  two  types,  both 
will  be  treated  as  if  they  constituted  in  reality  but  one  disease. 

Pleurisy  may  exist  in  an  acute  or  chronic  form.  The  attack 
may  be  sudden,  or  gradual,  the  animal  manifesting  indisposi- 
tion several  days  previous.  A  hard  drive,  over-exertion, 
exposure  to  cold,  washing  in  cold  water  when  warm,  a  fall, 
fracture  of  a  rib,  a  punctured  wound,  &c.,  are  all  causes  of 
pleurisy. 

The  horse  manifests  uneasiness  ;  there  is  a  violent  heaving  of 
the  flanks,  a  looking  round  at  his  sides,  with  an  anxious  expres- 
sion of  the  face  ;  pulse  quick  and  wiry ;  body,  mouth,  and  breath 
hot ;  sweating  in  different  parts  of  the  body ;  a  high  state  of 
nervous  irritation,  the  animal  pawing,  lying  down  but  rising 
immediately  ;  a  pressure  against  the  side  causes  pain.  A  pecu- 
liar symptom  is  observable  in  this  disease ;  the  right  fore-leg 
differs  in  temperature  from  the  left,  and  such  is  the  case  with 
the  hind  ones ;  if  the  right  fore-leg  is  warm,  the  left  hind  one 
will  also  be  warm,  and  the  others  cold. 

Experience  proves  that  blood-letting  in  this  disease  is  only 
opening  the  vein  to  let  life  escape ;  for  if  by  this  means  we  suc- 
ceed in  relieving  the  inflammatory  action,  the  loss  of  blood  so 
prostrates  the  system  that  the  animal  from  pure  debility  becomes 
the  victim  of  hydrothorax,  or  dropsy  of  the  chest,  living  a  mis- 
erable life  for  several  weeks,  perhaps  months,  to  die  at  last  from 
the  accumulation  of  fluid  in  the  chest.  Bleeding,  therefore,  is 
uncalled  for,  and  in  fact  is  positively  injurious.  The  early  ap- 
plication of  blisters  to  the  sides  is  very  important;  and  for  this 
purpose  the  same  preparation  will  be  found  serviceable  as  has 


HYDROTHORAX.  24 t 

been  recommended  in  the  case  of  inflammation  of  the  lungs. 
The  application  of  blankets  saturated  with  hot  water  and  kept 
round  the  body  for  several  hours  is  very  beneficial  Give  one 
of  the  following  powders  on  the  tongue  every  hour : — of  calomel 
one  drachm  ;  lactucarium  (the  juice  of  the  common  garden 
lettuce)  two  drachms ;  divide  into  three  powders.  In  two  hours 
after  giving  the  last  powder,  give  the  following  drench  :  liquor 
ammonia  acetatis  four  ounces ;  sulphuric  ether  one  ounce ; 
tincture  of  aconite  ten  drops  ;  water  one  pint.  If  no  improve- 
ment takes  place  within  six  hours,  give  half  a  drachm  of  the 
extract  of  belladonna  in  a  pail  of  water  every  three  hours  ;  con- 
tinue this  until  the  pupils  of  the  eye  dilate,  or  a  favorable 
change  otherwise  takes  place.  If  the  pulse  is  weak,  give  two 
ounces  of  nitrous  ether;  one  ounce  tincture  of  opium  ;  and  half 
a  pint  of  tepid  water ;  but  do  not  repeat  the  dose.  The  ani- 
mal must  be  kept  upon  a  low  diet ;  no  hay  or  corn  should  be 
given ;  carrots  and  green  food  may  be  used  sparingly ;  give 
water  frequently ;  injections  of  soap  and  water  are  necessary 
from  the  first  attack.  After  the  animal  becomes  convalescent, 
strong  tonics  must  be  given,  as  the  case  may  even  then  terminate 
in  dropsy  of  the  chest.  Nux  vomica  should  be  given  in  half- 
drachm  doses  in  the  feed  at  night ;  or  half-drachm  doses  of  the 
iodide  of  potassa  dissolved  in  a  pail  of  water  may  be  given  three 
times  a  da  v. 


HYDKOTHOKAX. 

Dropsy  of  the  chest,  or  hydrothorax,  is  usually  the  termina- 
tion of  pleurisy  in  cases  where  bleeding  or  long-continued  seda- 
tive medication  has  been  practised.  The  fluid  contained  within 
the  chest,  if  following  an  acute  attack  of  pleurisy,  is  a  beauti- 


24S'  THICK    WIND. 

fully  clear,  bright  yellow  fluid.  In  sub-acute  cases  there  is 
considerable  lymph  floating  in  it,  thus  rendering  it  turbid.  The 
quantity  varies  in  different  cases,  from  a  quart  or  two  to  several 
gallons. 

In  this  disease  the  animal  stands  with  legs  straddling ;  the 
breathing  is  short  and  quick,  and  as  the  water  accumulates  the 
respiration  becomes  more  labored  ;  pulse  small  and  quick  ;  stag- 
gering gait;  breast,  belly,  and  sheath  swelled,  leaving  after 
pressure  the  impression  of  the  fingers;  if  the  ear  is  applied  to 
the  side,  no  sounds  are  heard. 

No  course  of  treatment  can  be  suggested  which  would  be 
likely  to  succeed  in  the  hands  of  the  amateur;  this  disease  far 
too  oflen  proving  fatal  in  the  most  skillful  hands. 


THICK  WIND. 
This  disease  differs  in  its  action  and  effects  from  broken  wind 
or  heaves,  though  they  are  frequently  confounded.  It  is  cha- 
racterized by  a  quickened  respiration,  in  consequence  of  the 
obstruction  existing  in  the  air  passages  as  the  termination  of 
inflammatory  action.  The  capacity  of  the  lungs  is  often  very 
considerably  diminished  ;  the  air-cells  become  filled  up  or  obli- 
terated ;  and  the  bronchial  tubes  become  thickened  ;  so  that  the 
same  amount  of  atmospheric  air  cannot  be  admitted,  thus  giving 
rise  to  the  quick,  blowing  action  witnessed  in  this  disease.  "It 
is  astonishing,"  says  Mr.  Spooner,  "what  great  alteration  of 
the  structure  of  the  lungs  may  exist,  and  the  horse  be  still  able 
to  perform  his  accustomed  work.  I  remember  a  horse  that  foi 
some  months  worked  in  a  fast  coach,  doing  a  stage  of  twelve 
miles  daily  in  about  an  hour  and  a  quarter.  He  was  seized 
with  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  and  died  in  about  sixteen  hours. 


BROKEN    WIND.  249 

On  examining  the  body  after  death,  it  appeared  that  one  half  of 
the  lungs  for  a  long  time  past  must  have  been  perfectly  useless, 
for  the  purposes  of  respiration,  being  so  completely  hepatized 
as  to  be  heavier  than  water." 

But  little  can  be  done  in  the  way  of  treatment  for  a  thicks 
winded  horse.  It  is  important  to  keep  the  bowels  regular;  and 
by  feeding  with  good  sweet  provender  some  relief  is  usually 
afforded. 


ROARING  AND  WHISTLING. 

There  are  different  stages  of  the  same  disease,  arising  from  q 
thickening  of  the  windpipe,  or  of  the  membranes  of  the  larynx, 
rendering  the  passages  smaller  at  the  diseased  parts.  Thesq 
diseases  are  generally  the  termination  of  neglected  bronchitis, 
laryngitis,  and  all  diseases  of  a  pulmonary  or  catarrhal  cha» 
racter ;  ulceration  of  the  glottis  (a  portion  of  the  larynx)  is  also 
a  cause  of  roaring. 

If  these  diseases  are  caused  by  tight  reining,  the  bearing  rein 
should  be  left  off;  if  they  arise  from  other  causes,  there  is  but 
little  prospect  of  benefiting  the  animal,  except  in  cases  where 
the  thickened  parts  are  in  an  inflammatory  condition,  when 
relief  will  be  afforded  by  the  application  of  mustard  plasters  or 
fly  blisters  to  the  parts  affected. 


BROKEN  WIND. 

The  cause  of  broken  wind,  or  heaves,  has  never  been  satis- 
factorily ascertained ;  some  writers  attributing  it  to  functional 
derangement  of  the  digestive  organs,  others  to  rupture  of  the 
air-cells  of  the  lungs,  while  yet  a  third  class  to  a  spasmodic 
action  of  the  diaphragm,  a  muscle  dividing  the  chest  from  the 


250 


BROKEN    WIND. 


THE  ATTACK  AND  DEFENSE. 


abdomen.     In  this  disease  there  is  a  short  dry  cough,  which  is 
characteristic,  and  familiar  to  all  practised  ears. 

It  is  a  singular  fact,  well  known  to  all 
Western  horse-owners,  that  this  disease  has 
no  existence  on  the  prairies  of 
Indiana,  Illinois,  and  other 
^  Western  States  ;   and  broken- 
K^  winded  horses  that  have 
been   taken    to   those  sec- 
tions soon  get  well,  and  re- 
main so. 

The  symptoms  of  this  dis- 
ease are,  a  peculiar,  double- 
bellows  motion  of  the  flanks ;  respiration  quicker  than  natural ; 
a  short  peculiar  cough  ;  and  frequent  passing  of  wind. 

In  its  treatment  the  digestive  organs  should  be  kept  in  as 
healthy  a  condition  as  possible.  The  throat  should  be  ex- 
amined ;  and  if  by  merely  rubbing  the  sides  of  the  throat  a 
cough  is  excited,  the  chances  for  a  cure  are  favorable ;  but  if 
the  windpipe  requires  a  squeeze  in  order  to  produce  the  cough, 
there  is  little  use  in  attempting  a  cure.  Use  upon  the  throat 
three  times  a  week  for  five  or  six  weeks  the  following  salve  well 
rubbed  in  ;  iodine  ointment  two  ounces  ;  blue  (mercurial)  oint- 
ment one  ounce;  mix  well  together,  and  make  thin  with  oil. 
Give  internally  every  night  one  of  the  following  powders :  of 
sulphate  of  copper  and  pulverized  ginger,  each  one  ounce;  pul- 
verized gentian  root  two  ounces  ;  divide  into  sixteen  powders. 
The  benefits  of  this  course  of  treatment  have  been  very  marked 
in  the  author's  practice.  In  all  cases  no  hay  should  be  allowed, 
but  wheat  or  oat  straw  will  be  found  of  great  advantage. 


INFLAMMATION   OF   THE   STOMACH.  251 

DISEASES  OF  THE  STOMACH  AND  INTESTINES. 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  STOMACH. 

Inflammation  of  the  stomach,  or  gastritis,  is  usually  the  result 
of  swallowing  poisons,  or  powerful  stimulants.  Mr.  James 
Clark  relates  a  case  of  death  occurring  from  inflammation  of 
the  stomach  in  a  horse  in  consequence  of  being  drenched  with 
a  pint  of  vinegar  ;  and  another  case  where  death  was  caused  by 
giving  a  drench  which  contained  half  an  ounce  of  spirits  of 
hartshorn.  A  correspondent  writing  to  the  Turf  Register  in 
1855,  recommends  the  use  of  nux  vomica,  to  destroy  worms ; 
to  which  the  editor  appends  the  following  remarks : — *'  We 
must  caution  those  not  acquainted  with  the  deleterious  proper- 
ties of  nux  vomica  against  giving  that  drug  in  large  doses. 
Three  nuts  or  buttons  weigh  eighty  grains,  and  we  have  re- 
corded evidence  that  sixty  grains  of  the  powder  have  killed  a 
horse  in  a  short  time.  Hoffman  mentions  that  two  doses,  of 
fifteen  grains  each,  proved  fatal  to  the  patient."  The  cause  of 
these  fatal  terminations  was  doubtless  some  morbid  condition 
of  the  stomach  at  the  time  the  medicine  was  given.  "  I  have 
known,"  says  White,  *'a  horse  quickly  destroyed  by  being 
drenched  wuth  a  quart  of  beer  in  which  one  or  two  ounces  of 
tobacco  had  been  infused,  and  have  seen  other  horses  take 
much  larger  doses  without  any  ill  effects."  The  author  has 
known  cases  where  bots  were  supposed  to  have  given  rise  to 
inflammation  of  the  stomach. 

The  symptoms  from  poisoning  are  extreme  distress  and  rest- 
lessness, with  a  perfect  loathing  of  all  food ;  the  animal  breaks 
out  in  cold  sweats,  lies  down  but  rises  quickly,  and  becomes 


252  INFLAMMATION   OF   THE   BOWELS. 

quickly  prostrated  in  strength  ;  the  pulse  is  quick  and  oppressed  j 
purging  may,  or  may  not,  exist. 

The  treatment  will  depend  upon  the  cause  of  the  attack,  and 
should  in  all  cases  be  intrusted  to  the  hands  of  a  competent 
practitioner,  if  one  can  be  obtained.  Where  poison  is  sus- 
pected, it  is  better  to  give  plenty  of  gruel,  linseed  tea,  starch 
water,  chalk  water,  with  a  couple  of  ounces  of  tincture  of  opium. 
The  lancet  should  not  be  used,  as  the  animal  is  already  in  a 
debilitated  condition,  which  bleeding  would  only  increase, 
thereby  preventing  the  possibility  of  a  speedy  recovery. 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BOWELS. 

Enteritis,  or  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  called  by  farriers 
red  colic,  admits  of  three  divisions :  enteritis,  or  inflammation 
of  the  muscular  coat  of  the  intestines  ;  peritonitis,  or  inflamma- 
tion of  the  outer  coat  of  the  intestines  and  the  membrane  lining 
the  cavity  of  the  abdomen  ;  and  dysentery,  or  inflammation  of 
the  inner  or  mucous  coat  of  the  intestines. 

The  muscular  and  peritoneal  coats  are  those  usually  involved 
in  inflammation  of  the  bowels ;  but  the  muscular  is  more  fre- 
quently involved  than  the  peritoneal  coat.  The  causes  of  this 
disease  are  washing  when  warm,  or  swimming  in  a  river,  drink- 
ing cold  water  when  in  a  heated  condition,  over  exertion,  cos- 
tiveness,  dry  food  such  as  hay  with  little  water,  worms,  calcareous 
concretions,  and  metastasis. 

The  disease  is  sometimes  preceded  by  a  shivering  fit ;  there  is 
loss  of  appetite ;  hot  skin ;  continued  restlessness ;  mouth  hot  and 
dry  ;  membranes  of  nose  and  eyes  very  much  reddened  ;  pawing  ; 
the  animal  lies  down  and  gets  up  frequently,  kicks  at  his  belly, 
looks  frequently  at  his  sides  ;  no  cessation  of  pain  ;  pulse  hard, 


INFLAMMATION    OF   THE    BOWELS.  25S 

small,  and  wiry,  often  beating  one  hundred  times  or  more  a 
minute;  respiration  quickened  ;  bowels  constipated  ;  dung  small, 
bard,  and  dry ;  extremities  cold  ;  and  the  urine  highly  colored 
and  passed  with  difficulty.  As  the  disease  progresses,  the  in- 
tensity of  the  symptoms  very  much  increases.  The  animal  is 
now  covered  with  perspiration,  which  is  succeeded  by  a  chilly 
state;  the  pulse  becomes  quicker  ;  the  belly  begins  to  swell ;  the 
entire  system  becomes  prostrated,  and  the  animal  dies,  frequently 
in  the  most  violent  manner. 

These  cases  require  prompt  and  active  treatment,  for  the 
disease  runs  its  course  very  rapidly,  often  terminating  in  the 
course  of  ten  or  twelve  hours.  If  the  costiveness  yields  early, 
the  pulse  becomes  less  frequent,  soft,  and  full ;  the  extremities 
regain  a  moderate  temperature,  attended  with  remission  of 
pain,  and  the  case  will  be  likely  to  have  a  favorable  termina- 
tion. It  is  important  that  this  disease  should  be  distinguished 
from  an  attack  of  colic,  since  the  symptoms  of  one  very  much 
resemble  those  of  the  other ;  the  pulse,  however,  is  the  surest 
guide  in  distinguishing  these  diseases.  The  ordinary  mode  of 
treating  colic  would  be  highly  injurious  in  the  treatment  of 
inflammation  of  the  bowels. 

In  this  disease  copious  bleedings  are  necessary.  A  large 
opening  should  be  made  in  the  jugular  vein,  and  from  six  to 
eight  quarts  of  blood  taken,  the  quantity  varying  with  the 
size  and  condition  of  the  animal ;  the  hardened  dung  should 
be  removed  by  back-raking,  after  which  tobacco-smoke  injec- 
tions are  of  great  service ;  where  these  are  not  convenient, 
injections  of  soap  and  water  may  be  used,  or,  what  is  better, 
an  injection  of  two  gallons  of  water  v/ith  six  ounces  of  tincture 
of  arnica.     One  pint  of  Unseed  oil  may  now  be  given  ;  and  if  the 


254  INFLAMMATION   OF  THE   BOWELS. 

case  be  a  very  severe  one,  and  likely  to  terminate  in  death 
unless  relief  be  afforded,  ten  drops  of  croton  oil  may  be  added 
to  the  drench  ;  but  this  last  preparation  should  not  be  given 
except  in  very  desperate  cases,  as  of  life  or  death.  Aloes 
should  not  be  given  unless  combined  with  opium  ;  and  even 
then  this  treatment  is  not  advisable. 

Blankets  well  saturated  with  hot  water  should  be  applied 
to  the  abdomen,  and  kept  up  for  two  or  three  hours  ;  the  legs 
should  be  well  rubbed  with  cayenne  pepper  or  strong  mus- 
tard, and  bandaged  with  strips  of  flannel ;  if  there  is  no  im- 
provement in  the  course  of  four  or  five  hours,  give  one  drachm 
of  chloroform  in  one  pint  of  linseed  oil,  which  may,  if  neces- 
sary, be  followed  in  two  hours  by  the  following  ball,  mixed 
with  molasses  :  oue  drachm  of  pulverized  opium  ;  half  a  drachm 
of  calomel ;  and  two  drachms  of  linseed  meal.  The  injections 
should  be  continued  throughout ;  give  linseed  tea  to  drink, 
instead  of  water  ;  soft  mashes  and  new  grass,  if  obtainable,  may 
be  given  sparingly,  but  no  hay,  until  the  bowels  are  opened. 
The  animal  should  not  be  worked  for  some  days  after  recovery, 
as  this  disease  is  apt  to  return  if  he  is  put  to  work  or  exposed 
too  soon.  An  attack  of  this  character  does  not  necessarily 
render  the  animal  less  useful  or  valuable  after  his  restoration 
to  health. 

Peritonitis  differs  but  little  from  enteritis.  The  horse  is 
more  affected  with  pain ;  the  pawing,  rolling,  and  kicking  at 
the  belly  are  most  violent ;  the  eye  is  wild  in  appearance ; 
tenderness  is  evinced  on  pressing  the  abdomen ;  the  pulse  is 
full  and  throbbing ;  the  dung  is  small  and  hard,  and  covered 
with  a  slimy  substance.  The  same  course  of  treatment  should 
be  pursued  as  is  recommended  for  enteritis. 


DIARRHCEA.  255 

Dysentery  (molten  grease,  or  inflammation  of  the  intestines), 
is  often  confounded  with  diarrhoea.  It  is  sometimes  accom- 
panied with  purging,  but  this  is  by  no  means  an  invariable 
symptom.  The  most  common  causes  are  irritation,  translation 
or  obstructed  perspiration,  and  the  administration  of  improper 
purging  medicines,  causing  undue  irritation,  which  terminates 
in  iuflammation.  The  animal  usually  evinces  but  little  pain ; 
the  pulse  is  quick  and  small ;  there  is  sometimes  purging, 
with  great  prostration  of  strength. 

The  belly  should  be  well  rubbed  with  the  following  wash : 
half  a  pound  of  strong  mustard ;  four  ounces  of  spirits  of 
ammonia ;  and  one  pint  of  water.  The  following  drink  may 
be  given  every  three  hours  until  some  improvement  is  ob- 
served, when  it  should  be  discontinued  at  once  :  of  prepared 
chalk  and  tincture  of  ginger  each  one  ounce ;  powdered  opium 
one  drachm  ;  tincture  of  catechu  half  an  ounce  ;  tincture  of 
red  pepper  two  drachms  ;  and  one  pint  of  water.  Throw  up 
injections  of  two  ounces  of  laudanum  in  half  a  pint  of  water, 
frequently,  and  give  thin  gruel  to  drink.  No  blood  should 
be  taken  under  any  circumstances. 


DIAKEHCBA. 

This  disease  often  arises  in  the  absence  of  any  inflammatory 
action  upon  the  raucous  surface  of  the  intestines ;  and  hence 
the  distinction  cannot  be  made  by  the  ordinary  observer  be^^ 
tween  ft  and  dysentery,  if  purging  should  be  present.  In 
order  to  obviate  this  difficulty  we  recommend  only  such  reme- 
dies as  are  calculated  to  answer  either  case,  without  the  pos- 
sibility of  doing  injury  by  the  administration  of  medicines 


256 


INORDINATE   APPETITE. 


The  causes  of  diarrhoea  are  over-exertion,  exposure  to  cold, 
drinking  freely  of  pump  or  spring  water,  and  over  doses  of 
physic. 

For  treatment,  give  in  one  pint 

of  thin  gruel,  one  ounce  of  pre- 

pared 

chalk, 

half    a  n 


OMAtt    PASHA,    THE   TURKISH   CHIEFTAIN. 


'fi^_  of    tinc- 
^  ture    of 
'^M^^^^^^^^^^^^m  opium, 
_  ^_^  and    one    ounce   of   tincture   of 
-^"""^^  ginger.     Gruel,  starch,  or  arrow- 
root should  be  freely  given ;  good 
sweet  hay  is  very  advantageous, 


but  no  grass  or  bran  mashes  should  be  allowed. 


I2;rOIlDI]NrATE  appstite. 
Loss  of  appetite  is  soon  observed  aud  complained  of  by  the 
horse-owner,  and  in  too  many  instances  gives  occasion  for  im- 
proper medication.  Some  horses  are  particularly  choice  in 
the  selection  of  their  food,  refusing  that  which  is  poor,  or 
daintily  and  languidly  picking  it  over.  Horses  sometimes  eat 
slowly  and  daintily  in  consequence  of  weakness  of  the  diges- 


TALSY   OF   THE    STOMACH.  25 T 

live  organs ;  in  such  cases  a  handful  of  camomile  flowers  occa- 
sionally mixed  in  the  food  will  be  of  great  benefit.  Boiled 
potatoes  and  the  like  will  also  be  found  beneficial  in  such 
cases. 

The  disease  (for  it  is  no  less)  of  a  voracious  or  depraved 
appetite  arises  from  a  morbid  condition  of  the  digestive 
organs,  and  is  generally  regarded  by  horsemen  as  a  very  desir- 
able feature.  The  owner  is  greatly  surprised,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, that  his  animal  does  not  thrive.  A  distinction 
must  be  made  between  a  healthy  and  a  morbid  appetite.  The 
former  is  indicated  by  the  animal  being  ready  for  his  food  as 
soon  as  he  comes  in  from  work,  and  eating  his  allowance,  if 
good  sweet  provender,  with  evident  relish ;  but  the  latter  is 
indicated  by  a  constant  craving  for  food  and  water,  without 
regard  to  the  quality  of  either,  the  animal  oftentimes  in  addi- 
tion to  his  usual  allowance  eating  up  the  litter  from  under 
him,  which  is  frequently  in  a  very  filthy  condition.  He  is 
almost  constantly  craving  water,  and  will  drink  even  from  a 
stagnant  pool.  We  find  him  tucked  up  in  the  flanks,  or  carry- 
ing a  big  belly  ;  his  dung  is  often  soft,  slimy,  and  fetid  ;  he 
stales  largely,  and  his  urine  is  often  very  foul ;  he  is  dull,  lazy, 
and  stupid,  performing  his  work  languidly  or  unwillingly. 
Such  horses  are  more  than  any  others  subject  to  the  disease 
next  mentioned. 


PALSY    OF    THE    STOMACH. 

In  this  disease,  arising  from  a  voracious  appetite,  the 
stomach  becomes  overloaded  with  food,  and  distended  beyond 
its  natural  capacity.  This  is  seldom  observed  until  the  symp- 
toms are  so  plainly  marked  as  not  to  be  mistaken,  developing 

n 


258  RUPTURE  OF  THE  STOMACH. 

in  many  instances  the  disease  known  as  stomach  staggers, 
which  has  been  already  mentioned.  There  are  rarely  any 
symptoms  of  acute  pain ;  the  pulse  remaining  in  nearly  its 
natural  condition  ;  respiration  is  but  slightly  disturbed  ;  there 
is  great  heaviness  of  the  head ;  the  horse  stands  with  the 
fore  feet  well  under  him,  and  appears  to  be  weak  in  the  knees ; 
the  membranes  of  the  mouth  and  eyes  present  a  yellow  or 
orange  appearance,  indicating  the  liver  as  involved  in  the 
disease  ;  the  urine  is  highly  colored  ;  and  in  some  cases  there 
is  paralysis  of  the  eye,  and  often  of  the  extremities. 

The  treatment  required  is  much  the  same  as  in  stomach 
staggers ;  in  fact,  this  disease  is  the  origin  of  the  last  named. 
Attention  should  be  directed  in  the  first  place  to  opening  the 
bowels,  which  requires  a  strong  cathartic,  made  in  the  follow- 
ing manner :  of  Barbadoes  aloes  one  ounce ;  of  pulverized 
gentian  root  two  drachms ;  pulverized  ginger  one  drachm ; 
mix  with  molasses.  Give  no  /ood  for  at  least  forty-eight 
hours;  a  little  water  may  be  occasionally  given.  In  twelve 
hours  after  the  ball,  give  one  scruple  of  calomel  on  the 
tongue,  which  may  be  repeated  at  intervals  of  twelve  hours  for 
two  or  three  days. 


BUPTURE  OF  THE  STOMACH, 
Rupture  of  the  stomach  or  diaphragm  is  cfiu^od  by  the 
stomach  and  bowels  being  distended  with  food  far  beyond 
their  natural  capacity,  or  by  an  accumulation  of  gas  in  the 
stomach,  as  in  flatulent  colic.  The  diaphragm,  or  midriflP,  is 
often  ruptured  in  cases  of  flatulence,  as  is  the  case  also  with 
the  intestines.  As  nothing  in  the  way  of  treatment  can  be 
offered  in  these  cases,  all  speculation  upon  them  is  superfluous. 


CALCULUS,   OR  STONY   CONCRETIONS.  259 

CALCULUS,    OR    STONY    CONCRETIOJNTS. 

Calculous  deposits  are  not  unfrequently  found  in  the  stomach, 
intestines,  bladder,  kidneys,  liver,  brain,  and  in  the  glands, 
more  particularly  in  the  salivary  glands  ;  often  giving  rise  to 
much  difficulty,  particularly  when  situated  in  the  brain,  salivary 
glands,  or  bladder. 

Stones  in  the  stomach  and  intestines  of  the  horse  are  quite 
common.  Tlie  author  has  seen  several  weighing  from  one  to 
three  or  four  pounds ;  and  Mr.  Spooner  mentions  one  in  his 
possession  weighing  little  less  than  six  pounds.  There  were 
found  by  the  author  in  the  stomach  of  a  horse  which  died  of 
colic,  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  barrel  nails,  two  buttons,  and 
three  small  calculi.  This  horse  belonged  to  a  baker,  and  had 
been  fed  with  the  scrapings  of  the  shop.  The  nails  presented  a 
very  singular  appearance,  many  of  them  being  entirely  covered 
with  calculous  deposits,  and  others  covered  with  the  same 
deposits  on  the  heads  and  points,  presenting  a  body  with  two 
heads. 

The  presence  of  these  foreign  bodies  in  the  stomach  and 
intestines  occasions  frequent  attacks  of  colic,  and  sometimes 
produces  inflammation  of  the  bowels.  Miller's  horses  are 
supposed  to  be  most  subject  to  these  accumulations.  These 
abdominal  calculi  generally  have  a  metallic  nucleus,  are  com- 
posed of  the  triple  phosphates,  and  are  generally  round  and 
smooth.  When  first  taken  from  the  intestines,  they  are  of  a 
brown  or  greenish  color,  but  they  soon  become  white.  When 
a  horse  is  subject  to  frequent  attacks  of  colic,  not  occasioned 
by  feeding  upon  corn,  these  accumulations  may  reasonably  be 
guspected  to  be  the  cause. 


260  STRANGULATION   OF  THE  INTESTINES. 

HAIK  BALL. 

Hair  balls  are  occasionally  found  in  the  stomach  and  intes- 
tines of  a  horse,  generally  accumulating  around  a  metallic  nu- 
cleus. There  are  several  in  the  possession  of  the  author  where 
a  piece  of  iron  is  the  nucleus,  and  one  where  a  piece  of  coal 
afforded  the  same  basis.  These  balls  occasion  the  same  disor- 
ders,  preceded  by  the  same  symptoms,  and  followed  by  the  same 
results  as  the  calculus.  The  animal  may  recover  from  a  number 
of  attacks  of  colic,  and  die  at  last  from  the  same  cause. 


STKANGULATIOW  OF  THE  INTESTINES. 

On  examining  horses  after  death  from  an  attack  of  colic,  the 
small  intestines  are  occasionally  found  tangled  in  a  knot  so  as 
to  cause  a  complete  obstruction  in  the  passages.  This  gives 
rise  to  colic  pains,  terminating  in  inflammation  of  the  bowels 
and  death.  The  small  intestines  being  but  loosely  attached  by 
the  peritoneum,  their  outer  covering,  have  free  play  in  all  direc- 
tions, whence  the  tendency  arises  to  these  accidents ;  for  the 
author  believes  them  to  spring  from  accidental  rather  than 
natural  causes.  There  may  be  a  simple  twisting,  or  the  intes- 
tine may  be  firmly  tied  into  a  knot. 

There  is  another  species,  called  intro-susception,  or  intra-sus- 
ception,  which  is  a  slipping  of  one  portion  of  the  intestines  into, 
or  inside  of,  another  portion,  thus  completely  blocking  up  the 
passage.  There  are  no  symptoms  by  which  either  of  these 
conditions  may  be  known ;  and  such  cases  are  therefore  treated 
as  cases  of  ordinary  colic,  or  of  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  as 
the  case  may  be.  Where,  however,  such  a  condition  of  the 
parts  exists,  all  treatment  will  be  useless. 


SPASMODIC  COLIC.  26i 

SPASMODIC  COLIC. 

This  disease,  called  by  farriers  gripes,  cramp,  fret,  &;c.,  is  a 
cramp  or  spasm  of  the  muscular  structure  of  the  intestines,  most 
generally  of  the  small  ones.  The  most  common  causes  are  the 
apitlication  of  cold  water  to  the  surface  of  the  body,  drinking 
cold  water  when  in  a  heated  condition,  costiveness,  stones  in 
the  intestines,  hair  ball,  strictures  of  the  intestines,  unwholesome 
food,  &c. 

The  premonitory  symptoms  are  sudden  in  their  nature.  The 
animal  is  first  observed  pawing  violently,  showing  evident  symp- 
toms of  great  distress,  shifting  his  position  almost  constantly, 
and  manifesting  a  desire  to  lie  down.  In  a  few  minutes  these 
symptoms  disappear,  and  the  animal  is  again  easy.  But  the 
same  uneasiness  again  returns,  increasing  in  severity  until  the 
animal  cannot  be  kept  upon  his  feet;  the  pulse  is  full,  but 
scarcely  altered  from  the  normal  standard.  As  the  disease  ad- 
vances, the  symptoms  become  more  severe,  the  animal  at  times 
throwing  himself  with  great  force  upon  the  ground  as  though 
he  were  shot,  looking  anxiously  at  his  sides,  sometimes  snap- 
ping at  them  with  his  teeth,  and  striking  his  belly  with  his  hind 
feet.  The  symptoms  vary  but  little  from  those  of  inflammation 
of  the  bowels,  the  condition  of  the  pulse  and  the  remission  of 
pain  being  the  distinguishing  features.  The  extremities  are  of 
a  natural  temperature  ;  there  are  frequent  but  ineffectual  efforts 
to  stale,  and  a  cold  sweat  bedews  the  body. 

In  this  disease  it  is  necessary  to  back-rake,  and  throw  up  the 
fundament  injections  of  castile  soap  and  water.  Give  internally 
two  ounces  of  nitrous  ether,  one  ounce  of  tincture  of  opium,  and 
half  a  pint  of  water  mixed,  which  may  be  repeated  in  twenty 


262  FLATULENT   COLIC. 

minutes  with  the  addition  of  one  ounce  of  tincture  of  aloes. 
Rub  the  belly  well  with  mustard  and  water ;  if  in  half  an  hour 
there  is  no  improvement,  and  no  symptoms  of  inflammation  are 
present,  give  of  lactucarium  half  an  ounce,  of  Jamaica  ginger 
half  an  ounce,  and  one  pint  of  the  best  rum  or  gin  ;  shake  well 
together,  and  give  one-third  with  twice  the  quantity  of  w'ater 
every  hour  until  relief  is  obtained. 


FLATULENT  COLIC 
This  is  an  accumulation  of  gas  in  the  stomach  and  intestines, 
occurring  more  often  in  the  spring  and  fall  than  at  any  other 
season.  Horses  fed  on  corn  are  most  sub-  .^-  ~ ^~  -;^&=, 
ject  to  these  attacks,  in  consequence  of  this  '^=z ^r?fI^^^$?^S 
kind  of  food  ferment- 
ing readily  in  the 
stomach,  more  par- 
ticularly when  green. 
If  the  accumulation  feM 
of  gas  thereby  occa- 
sioned is  not  arrested,  =^^ 
it  soon  swells  the  ^ 
stomach  and  intes- 
tines to  such  an  extent  as  to  cause  the  diaphragm,  or  walls  of 
the  stomach  to  give  way,  and  the  death  of  the  animal  ensues. 
The  author  has  known  cases  to  terminate  in  death  in  less  than 
half  an  hour  from  the  observation  of  the  first  symptoms,  so 
rapid  is  the  course  of  this  disease.  The  symptoms  are  the  same 
in  spasmodic  colic,  with  the  exception  of  the  swelling  of  the 
abdomen.  The  same  medicines  are  to  be  used,  with  the  addi- 
tion of  from  one  to  two  drachms  of  chloride  of  lime  in  each  dose, 


SIR   AKCHY,   THE  GODOLPHIN   OF   AMERICA. 


WORMS.  863 

according  to  the  urgency  of  the  symptoms.  This,  if  given  in 
time,  will  generally  prove  efficacious.  Tincture  of  hartshorn 
and  spirits  of  turpentine  are  recommended  by  some  veterinary 
authors,  and  are  excellent  remedies ;  but  as  much  injury  has 
been  caused  by  their  use  by  inexperienced  persons,  the  author 
would  not  advise  their  use  since  the  animal  rany  be  killt'd  hvnn 
improper  administration  of  them. 


WORMS. 

Four  kinds  of  worms  are  found  in  the  horse,  viz :  the  luuibrici, 
which  very  much  resemble  the  common  earth-worm  in  form ; 
ascarides,  so  called  from  their  supposed  resemblance  to  a  thread ; 
tajuia,  or  tape-worm,  of  which  variety  but  little  is  known,  as  it 
is  very  rare ;  and,  lastly,  the  persecuted  bots,  considered  by 
farmers  and  horsemen  the  greatest  of  pests  and  the  most  dan- 
gerous of  all  the  species. 

The  lumbrici  are  most  generally  found  in  the  small  intestines, 
where  they  sometimes  do  much  mischief  by  their  irritating  effects. 
The  author  was  recently  shown  a  very  remarkable  specimen  of 
these  worms  by  his  friend,  W.  W.  Fraley,  V.  S.  This  specimen 
was  some  two  yards  long,  consisting  of  a  portion  of  the  small 
intestines  so  completely  filled  with  these  worms  as  apparently 
to  render  it  ahnost  impossible  for  anything  to  pass  through  it, 
the  worms  having  accumulated  in  thousands.  These  worms  are 
from  eight  to  ten  inches  in  length,  round  and  perfectly  white. 
There  appear  to  be  two  varieties  of  the  lumbrici.  The  other 
variety  is  similar  in  form  and  length,  but  has  numerous  brown 
transverse  lines,  at  about  equal  distances  from  each  other,  along 
its  entire  length. 

The  ascarides  are  found  in  the  large  intestines,  and  are  white 


264  WORMS. 

worms  from  one  to  three  inches  in  length.  It  is  a  somewhat 
singular  fact,  that  although  these  worms  are  usually  found  in 
the  large  intestines,  their  origin,  apparently,  is  in  the  stomach 
of  the  horse.  On  opening  horses  after  death,  tumors  are  often 
found  in  the  stomach,  which  upon  being  cut  open  will  be  found 
to  contain  either  a  thick  whitish  matter,  or  knots  of  small 
worms,  from  half  an  inch  to  an  inch  in  length,  of  precisely  the 
same  appearance  as  that  of  the  ascarides,  and  believed  by  the 
author  to  be  identical  with  them. 

The  symptoms  of  worms  are  a  rough,  harsh,  staring  coat ; 
irregular  or  depraved  appetite ;  a  whitish,  or  yellowish  white, 
shining  substance  sometimes  observable  about  the  fundament, 
accompanied  by  a  disposition  on  the  part  of  the  animal  to  rub 
the  tail ;  breath  occasionally  hot  and  fetid  ;  and  in  some  cases 
a  dry,  short  cough.  The  animal  becomes  poor  in  flesh  and 
spirits. 

Various  modes  of  treatment  have  been  adopted  with  but  little 
benefit.  The  remedies  which  have  become  most  popular  are 
tartar  emetic,  calomel,  turpentine,  an  infusion  of  Indian  pink, 
arsenic,  green  vitriol,  &c.  That  which  has  usually  been  found 
most  successful  in  the  author's  practice  is  to  give  one  of  the  fol- 
lowing powders  for  three  successive  nights ;  of  calomel  three 
drachms ;  of  tartar  emetic  one  drachm ;  mix  and  divide  into 
three  powders.  Twenty-four  hours  after,  give  the  following 
purgative  ball :  of  Barbadoes  aloes  six  drachms ;  pulverized 
ginger  two  drachms  ;  and  pulverized  gentian  root  one  drachm. 
Oil  of  turpentine  in  doses  of  two  ounces  has  been  very  highly 
recommended  by  some  authors ;  but  this  the  author  regards  as 
ft  dangerous  remedy,  from  its  tendency  to  produce  inflammation 


BOTS.  2,65 

of  the  stomdch  or  bowels.     Too  many  horses  have  been  killed 
by  its  destructive  ageucy  to  render  its  use  advisable. 


BOTS. 

These  are  the  larvae  of  the  gad-fly.  During  the  summer 
months,  when  the  horse  is  at  grass,  the  parent  fly  is  seen  busily 
engaged  in  depositing  its  eggs  upon  the 
hairs  of  the  animal  in  such  places  as  are 
easily  reached  by  his  mouth.  This  seems 
to  be  an  instinctive  feature  in  this  insect. 
The  legs,  shoulders,  and  body  are  the  parts 
selected  for  this  purpose.  The  gad-fly  is 
seen  hovering  in  an  upright  position  when  ^^^^^^^  gad-flt  oe  bot. 
about  to  deposit  her  egg ;  she  then  darts  upon  the  horse,  fixing 
the  egg  to  the  hairs  by  means  of  a  glutinous  substance ;  she 
again  prepares  another,  which  is  deposited  in  like  manner,  until 
many  hundreds  are  observed  covering  the  hairs  of  the  animal. 
The  rapidity  with  which  these  eggs  are  prepared  and  deposited 
is  astonishing.  They  are  taken  into  the  mouth  by  the  animal 
biting  or  licking  himself  or  his  mate,  and  are  hatched  upon  the 
tongue,  or  taken  into  the  stomach  and  there  hatche'd.  If  the 
eggs  are  recently  produced,  they  pass  into  the  stomach  before 
they  are  hatched ;  but  if  they  remain  for  a  considerable  time 
upon  the  hairs,  they  are  hatched  by  the  warmth  of  the  tongue, 
and  they  pass  into  the  stomach,  where  they  are  developed. 
This  fact  may  be  easily  and  satisfactorily  proven  by  taking  the 
newly  deposited  egg  in  the  hand,  and  then  applyiug  a  warm 
fluid  ;  when  it  will  be  observed  that  the  egg  is  softened  or  dis- 
solved, but  does  not  produce  the  bot ;  whereas,  if  the  egg  be 


266  BOTS. 

old,  it  will  hatch  in  the  hand.     The  investigations  of  Mr.  Bracy 

Clark,  Y.   S.,  have  thrown   much  additional  light  upon  the 

natural  history  of  these  parasites. 

The  dread  entertained  of  this  species  of  worms  by  farmers 

and  horsemen  arises  from  the  fact  that  so  many  useless  books 

have  been  published,  purporting  to  be  guides  to  the 

farmer  and  horseman,  many  of  which  attribute  the 

death  of  a  majority  of  horses  to  ravages  of  the  bot,  k| 

and  give  as  symptoms  of  their  presence  those  which 

characterize  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  kidneys,  blad-  ||| 

der,  and   the  like.     To  this  circumstance  is   to   be| 

attributed  the  vast  distruction  of  life  by  drenching  and 

physicking  the  animal  for  bots.     [N'ow,  a  rational  view 

of  the  subject  leads  us  but  to  one  conclusion,  viz.,  that 

EGGS  ON  \]^Q  stomach  of  the  horse  is  the  natural  habita-      j.^^^^ 

A  HAIR. 

tion  of  the  bot,  and  that  it  cannot  be,  or  is  not,  ^^''^^^^^^ 
developed  anywhere  else.  This  being  the  case,  it  is  reasonable 
to  suppose  that  inasmuch  as  the  animal  apparently  suffers 
no  inconvenience  from  their  presence  in  his  stomach,  they 
were  intended  to  serve  some  good  purpose,  rather  than  to  do 
mischief.  Indeed,  without  going  to  the  extreme  of  asserting, 
as  does  Mr.  Clarke,  that  bots  are  ''always  harmless,"  it  may 
be  safely  asserted  as  the  unanimous  opinion  of  veterinary  sur- 
geons (farriers  arc  not  included),  the  world  over,  that  they  are 
comparatively  harmless,  and  that  when  they  do  become  injurious, 
it  is  almost  always  preceded  by  some  morbid  condition  of  the 
digestive  organs.  This  may  either  arise  from  disease,  or  from 
enormous  accumulations  of  bots,  which  are  sometimes  so  great 
as  to  completely  block  up  tlie  pyloric  orifice,  or  opening  from 
the  stomach  into  the  intestines. 


BOTS. 


267 


There  are  no  symptoms  by  which  the  existence  of  bots  is  in- 
dicated, except  it  be  in  the  spring,  when  they  pass  from  the 
horse  by  the  fundament,  assuming  again  the  form  of  a  chrysa- 
lis to  re-produce  the  parent  fly.  As  has  ah'eady  been 
stated,  the  symptoms  of  other  diseases,  as  inflam- 
f\  mation  of  the  bowels,  &c.,  are  often  assigned  as  indicat- 
ing the  presence  of  bots,  but  although  bots  may  some- 
times give  rise  to  these  conditions,  it  is  worse  than 
folly  to  jump  at  the  probable  cause  in  such  cases  and 
cATERPiM,AR,  gay  that  it  is  a  case  of  bots  because  a  horse  looks  at 

FCLL    SIZE. 

his  sides  and  the  like.  When  such  an  instance  is 
encountered,  no  matter  whether  it  arise  from  bots  or  not,  the 
animal  must  be  treated  for  the  inflammation  which  is  present. 
If  we  succeed  in  controlling  it,  and  restoring  the  stomach  to 
healthy  action,  the  bots  are  no  longer  troublesome ;  but  if,  on 
the  contrary,  we  commence  drenching  the  animal  for  bots,  the 
chances  are  that  we  shall  kill  him.     Morbid  conditions  of  the 

stomach  will  sometimes  so  incom- 
mode these  little  creatures   as  to 


J>  cause  them  to  escape  from  their  un- 
'-  pleasant  situation,  which  is  com- 
\  monly  effected  by  perforating  the 
''  walls  of  the  stomach  and  allowing 
the  fluids  to  escape  into  the  abdo- 
men, in  which  case  no  medical  agent 
will  save  the  animal's  life.  Fortu- 
nately, however,  these  cases  but 
rarely  occur.  The  author  has  met 
with  but  a  solitary  case  in  an  experience  of  ten  years  where 
death  could  be  attributed  to  the  action  of  bots. 
-   We  know,  moreover,  from  frequent  experiments   that  the 


CATERPILLAR  OR    LARViE  ADHERIXfl 
TO  THE    LINING  OF  THE  STOMACH. 


268  DISEASES  OP  THE   LIVER. 

horse  bot  is  more  tenacious  of  life  than  even  the  cat,  which  is 
popularly  endowed  with   nine  lives.     The 
live  bot  has  been  immersed  in  spirits  of  tur- 
pentine, alcohol,  nitric  and  muriatic  acid,  and 
THE  RED  GAD-FLT.      mnuj  othcr  cquallj  powerful  fluids,  and  yet 
he  still  adhered  to  life  with  marvelous  tenacity.     If,  then,  it 
^,^5^    were  possible  to  detect  the  presence  of  bots  by  any 
marked  symptoms,  the  attempt  to  remove  them  would 
certainly  be  hazardous  to  the  life  of  the  animal.     The 
author  has  known  cases  of  flatulent  colic  to  be  treated 
for  bots,  when,  upon  opening  the  stomach  after  the 
death  which  inevitably  ensued,  not  a  solitary  bot  was 

CATERPILtAR  OP    ^^     ^^    ^^^^^^         J^    ^^,J||     ^^     y^^^,^^     ^^     ^^^^^    ^^^^     '^^ 
THE   RED  GAD-FLT. 

large  cities,  where  horses  are  not  indulged  in  a  run  at  grass  it 
is  no  unusual  occurrence  to  find  their  stomachs  entirely  free 
from  bots. 


IS 


DISEASES  OF  THE  LITER. 

Diseases  of  the  liver  are  of  very  common  occurrence  in  the 
horse,  although  the  singularity  of  the  internal  structure  of  that 
animal  renders  it  less  liable  to  jaundice  than  the  human  being. 
The  horse  possesses  no  gall-bladder;  instead  of  such  a  reservoir 
it  has  simply  a  gall-duct,  called  the  hepatic  duct,  which  enters 
that  portion  of  the  intestines  called  the  duodenum  about  six 
inches  from  the  stomach,  so  that  the  gall  is  emptied  into  the 
bowels  as  fast  as  it  is  secreted.  Yarious  opinions  have  been  ex- 
pressed touching  this  singular  arrangement  in  the  liver  of  the 
horse,  any  examination  of  which  would  be  out  of  place  in  the 
present  work.  We  proceed  therefore  to  the  mention  of  such 
diseases  as  come  apparently  under  the  above  head. 


INFLAMMATION  OP  THE  LIVER.  269 

INFLAMMATION  OP  THE  LIVEB. 

Hepatitis,  or  iuflamraation  of  the  liver,  does  not  generally 
exist  as  a  primary  affection,  though  it  is  frequently  found  as  a 
sympathetic  one,  being  not  uncommonly  connected  with  epi- 
demics, or  epizootic  diseases,  particularly  in  that  which  is  known 
to  horsemen  as  pink-eye  distemper. 

The  most  common  cause  of  this  disease  is  a  fullness  of  blood, 
or  a  plethoric  condition  of  the  system,  in  consequence  of  which 
too  much  blood  is  sent  to  the  liver ;  want  of  exercise,  and  too 
high  feeding,  particularly  with  corn,  are  also  causes  of  inflam- 
mation of  this  important  organ. 

The  symptoms  of  this  disease  are  more  obscure  than  those 
of  any  other  part,  and  the  difficulty  is  materially  enhanced  by 
the  inability  of  the  animal  to  assist  us  with  his  tongue.  Still, 
by  close  observation  we  can  trace  the  symptoms  with  such  a 
degree  of  accuracy  as  to  render  our  treatment  almost  a  cer- 
tainty. The  mouth  and  breath  are  hot ;  the  extremities  cold  j 
the  membrane  lining  the  eyelids  highly  injected,  presenting  an 
orange-red  appearance;  the  pulse  rises  from  seventy  to  one 
hundred  or  more  a  minute,  and  is  soft  and  full ;  the  appetite 
lost;  the  animal  looks  wistfully  and  deploringly  at  his  sides; 
lies  down,  but  gets  up  again  directly;  the  respiration  at  times 
is  perfectly  tranquil,  at  other  times  slightly  disturbed,  and  at 
others  again  very  much  disturbed,  and  distressing  to  the  ani- 
mal— so  that,  in  fact,  the  amateur  cannot  be  governed  by  this 
symptom, — there  is  usually  much  tenderness  of  the  right  side; 
and  the  dung  small,  hard,  and  generally  dark-colored. 

In  the  acute  stage  the  animal  is  generally  in  a  state  of 
plethora^  in  consequence  of  which  a  small  quantity  of  blood 


270  JAUNDICE. 

may  be  taken  to  good  advantage ;  but  in  the  absence  of 
plethora  he  must  not  be  bled  ;  a  blister  may  be  applied  to  the 
sides,  or  the  application  of  creosote  will  be  found  serviceable. 
Injections  of  castile  soap  and  water  should  be  used  occasion- 
ally until  the  bowels  are  opened.  Give  every  four  hours  one 
of  the  following  balls  :  of  Barbadoes  aloes  six  drachms ; 
calomel  three  drachms ;  mix  with  molasses,  and  divide  into 
twelve  parts.  Keep  the  body  warm,  and  bandage  the  legs 
with  flannel ;  turn  into  a  loose  box  stall,  where  the  atmosphere 
is  pure.  When  convalescent,  give  one  of  the  following  balls 
night  and  morning :  of  sulphate  of  iron  two  ounces ;  pulver- 
ized gentian  root  one  and  a  half  ounces ;  pulverized  Jamaica 
ginger  one  ounce  ;  and  pulverized  anise  seed  one  ounce :  mix 
with  molasses,  and  divide  into  sixteen  parts. 


JAUNDICE. 

This  disease  depends  upon  an  obstruction  of  the  biliary  ex- 
cretions, causing  a  yellow  discoloration  of  the  mucous  mem- 
brane, fat,  ligaments,  and  other  tissues  of  the  body ;  it  will 
oftener  be  found  in  connection  with  other  diseases  than  dis- 
tinct and  independent  of  them,  although  it  does  occasionally 
exist  in  a  pure  or  unmixed  form,  the  symptoms  of  which  are 
not  at  first  observed  by  the  horseman  on  account  of  their 
obscurity. 

The  lining  membranes  of  the  eyelids  and  lips  are  of  a  yellow 
or  orange  color,  extending  even  to  the  white  of  the  eye ;  the 
dung  pale,  small,  and  bally ;  bowels  generally  constipated  ; 
appetite  lost  or  languid  ;  the  animal  hangs  his  head,  is  dull 
and  mopy,  and  becomes  very  poor  in  flesh. 


HEPATIRRIICEA.  2YI 

In  the  treatment  of  this  disease  the  principal  reliance  is 
upon  calomel ;  two  drachms  of  which  made  into  a  bolus  with 
flaxseed  meal  and  molasses  should  be  given,  followed  in 
twenty-four  hours  by  a  purging  ball.  The  animal  should  have 
moderate  exercise  daily  ;  his  body  should  be  kept  warm  ;  and 
if  there  be  pain  in  the  right  side,  apply  a  blister ;  if  necessary, 
the  calomel  may  be  repeated  in  scruple  doses  once  a  week. 


HEPATIRRHCBA. 

This  is  a  rupture  of  the  peritoneal  coat  of  the  liver,  and 
hemorrhage  from  it.  It  occurs  most  generally  in  aged  horses, 
and  is  always  preceded  by  structural  derangement,  or  disorgani- 
zation which,  from  the  obscurity  of  the  symptoms  escapes 
notice  until  it  is  too  late  for  medical  aid.  The  animal  gener- 
ally does  his  work  as  usual  until  within  a  few  hours  of  his 
death,  keeping  in  full  condition,  and  presenting  to  the  eye  of 
his  owner  no  appearance  of  disease.  The  symptoms  are  so 
gradual  in  their  development  as  to  escape  observation  until 
the  peritoneum,  or  covering  of  the  liver,  gives  way,  or  becomes 
ruptured,  from  the  great  distension  of  the  liver,  when  the 
blood  flows  freely  into  the  abdominal  cavity,  giving  rise  to  the 
most  alarming  symptoms,  and  the  horse  often  dies  within  an 
hour  after  he  is  first  discovered  to  be  ill. 

The  symptoms  which  are  noticeable  are  suddenly  developed, 
and  generally  appear  immediately  after  eating  or  drinking. 
The  animal  will  sometimes  fall  suddenly,  and  die  in  a  few 
minutes,  without  having  shown  any  previous  indisposition ;  at 
other  times  the  respiration  becomes  hurried,  the  belly  begins 
to  swell,  the  pulse  becomes  gradually  diminished  and  very 
feeble,  partial   or  general  sweating  takes  place,  the  animal 


272  DECAYED   STRUCTURE   OF  THE  LIVER. 

walks  with  a  tottering  gait,  the  membranes  lining  the  eyelids, 
lips,  and  nose,  become  bhinched,  indicating  internal  hemor- 
rhage, there  is  a  vacant  stare  in  the  eye,  with  great  prostra- 
tion of  strength,  which  soon  terminates  in  death.  Upon 
opening  the  abdomen,  it  is  found  filled  with  dark  venous 
blood  in  a  fluid  state,  and  the  liver  is  several  times  its 
natural  size,  and  exceedingly  tender.  Where  it  is  possible  to 
detect  the  existence  of  the  disease  in  its  incipient  stages, 
calomel  would  be  the  appropriate  remedy,  as  it  is  as  justly 
entitled  to  rank  as  a  specific  for  the  diseases  of  the  liver  of 
the  horse,  as  it  is  for  those  of  his  master — man. 


DECAYED    STRUCTURE    OP    THE    LIVER. 

This  also  is  a  disease  of  common  occurrence,  though  like 
the  other  diseases  of  this  organ,  the  symptoms,  from  their 
obscurity,  are  not  well  understood  by  the  veterinary  practi- 
tioner, but  little  attention  having  as  yet  been  paid  to  its  in- 
vestigation. 

The  first  symptoms  noticed  are  loss  of  appetite ;  surfeit ; 
the  being  hide-bound  ;  rough,  staring  coat ;  food  passing  un- 
digested ;  stools  of  a  clay  color ;  prostration  of  strength ; 
readiness  to  sweat ;  pulse  quick  but  feeble ;  respiration  hur- 
ried ;  sometimes  violent  purging,  after  which  the  animal 
usually  dies. 

Caution  is  necessary  in  the  treatment  of  this  variety  of  dis- 
eased liver.  Bleeding  must  not  be  resorted  to  upon  any  con- 
sideration. In  the  absence  of  purging,  give  one  of  the  fol- 
lowing balls  every  other  day  :  of  calomel  half  an  ounce ;  Bar- 
badoes  aloes  one  ounce  j  resin  three  ounces  ;  mix  with  molasses, 


INFLAMMATION   OF  THE   BLADDER.  2t3 

and  divide  into  six  balls.  Upon  the  intermediate  davs  give 
of  sulphate  of  potash  one  and  a  half  ounces  ;  carbonate  of 
potash  one  ounce  ;  pulverized  Jamaica  ginger  half  an  ounce  ; 
Unseed  meal  two  ounces  :  mix  with  molasses,  and  divide  into 
six  balls. 


DISEASES    OF    THE    URINARY   ORGANS, 


INFLAMMATION    OF    THE    BLADDER. 

Inflammation  of  the  bladder,  or  cystitis,  is  a  disease  of  com- 
paratively rare  occurrence  in  the  horse,  and  generally  is  found 
in  connection  with  other  diseases.  It  is  commonly  supposed 
to  occur  more  frequently  in  mares ;  although  the  author's  ex- 
perience has  not  confirmed  this  supposition. 

The  symptoms  are  con- 
tinual emission  of  urine  in 
small  quantities  ;  the  moment 
it  snters  the  bladder  it  is 
again  expelled,  but  voided 
with  much  straining ;  pulse 
accelerated  ;  pawing ;  the  M 
animal  looks  imploringly  at 
his  flanks ;  and  upon  passing  ^'^"^'"^'^  «'^^  ««^^  ^'^  ^  «^««- 

the  hand  into  the  rectum,  the  bladder  will  be  found  contracted, 
and  hard  as  a  ball,  being  also  hot  and  tender. 
■  For  treatment,  back-rake  the  animal  in  the  first  place,  and 
then  throw  up  injections  of  water,  adding  to  every  gallon  three 
ounces  of  tincture  of  opium.  Give  internally  one  and  a  half 
18 


2T4  RETENTION   OF    URINJB, 

pints  of  linseed  oil,  to  which  niay  be  advantageously  added 
one  drachm  of  chloroform.  Bathe  the  loins  with  the  follow- 
ing mixture  ■.  of  strong  mustard,  a  quarter  of  a  pound ;  water, 
half  a  pint ;  hartshorn,  two  ounces  :  mix  thoroughly  together, 
and  rub  it  well  in.  Give  half  a  drachm  of  lactucarium  three 
times  a  day ;  or,  if  more  convenient,  the  extract  of  belladonna 
may  be  substituted.^  Give  plenty  of  flaxseed  tea  ;  if  the  animal 
refuses  to  drink  it,  drench  him  with  it.  No  hay  must  be 
given  until  twenty-four  hours  after  he  becomes  convalescent. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  dangerous  diseases  to  which  the  horse 
is  subject. 

RETEWTION    OF    URnSTB. 

This  disease,  technically  known  as  spasm  of  the  neck  of  the 
bladder,  is  found  more  frequently  as  an  attendant  upon  other 
diseases  than  as  an  independent  affection.  It  frequently  occurs 
in  colics  as  an  accompanying  symptom,  thus  misleading  the 
ordinary  obsei*ver  in  his  judgment  of  the  disorder. 

The  most  common  symptom  is  frequent  but  unsuccessful 
efforts  to  stale.  This,  however,  must  not  be  depended  upon 
too  strongly  ;  as  it  will  sometimes  be  observed  in  horses  that 
are  comparatively  sound  in  these  organs,  particularly  in  those 
that  have  been  \vell  eared  for.  In  such  cases  this  temporary 
retention  of  urine  arises  from  a  dislike  on  the  part  of  the 
iinimal  of  splattering  his  legs  in  voiding  his  water;  hence  he 
jrill  often  retain  it  in  the  bladder,  though  painful  to  him,  until 
ihe  litter  is  placed  under  him,  wiien  he  at  once  stretches  him- 
Belf,  and  the  urine  flows  freely  and  copiously.  This  fact  has 
given  rise  to  a  superstitious  notion  among  horsemen,  that 
there  is  some  peculiar  virtue,  in  the  straw  to  cause  this  sudden 


PROFUSE   STALING.  2Y5 

cure ;  as  a  consequence,  we  frequently  hear  the  remark,  "  Put 
some  straw  under  him — that  will  cure  him,"  etc. 

If,  however,  retention  of  urine  arises  from  disease,  the  straw 
possesses  no  magic  charm  to  afford  relief.  In  such  instances 
the  animal  manifests  but  little  pain,  and  rarely  lies  down.  On 
passing  the  hand  up  the  rectum  or  fundament,  the  bladder, 
which  is  easily  felt,  will  be  found  very  much  distended  with 
urine. 

The  services  of  a  regular  veterinary  practitioner  will  be  re- 
quired in  the  treatment  of  this  disease,  as  the  bladder  must  be 
at  once  evacuated,  which  can  in  most  cases  be  accomplished 
by  means  of  an  instrument  called  the  catheter,  which  is  not 
commonly  found  in  the  hands  of  any  but  the  qualified  sur- 
geon. This  desired  evacuation  can  in  some  instances  be  pro- 
duced by  careful  manipulation.  Back-raking  is  very  necessary 
in  these  cases,  and  injections  of  soap  and  water  should  be  freely 
used.  Unless  the  bladder  is  speedily  emptied,  it  swells  and 
bursts,  causing  a  fatal  termination.  Fomentations  of  hot 
water  to  the  abdomen,  and  pressure  of  the  hand  upon  the 
bladder  will  be  of  assistance  in  enabling  the  animal  to  void 
the  urine. 


PBOFUSE    STAIillfG. 

This  disorder,  called, also  diabetes,  is  of  frequent  occurrence 
in  the  horse,  and  is  attended  with  debility,  impaired  appetite, 
and  sometimes  loss  of  flesh.  The  causes  are  the  improper  use 
of  nitre,  saltpetre,  and  other  powerful  diuretics,  as  also  un- 
wholesome food,  and  the  like. 

The  treatment  is  simple  and  effective  ;  a  great  variety  of 
medicinal  substances  being  used  in  its  abatement — as  catechu. 


2*76  BLOODY  URINE. 

oak  bark,  gum  kino,  opium,  chalk,  etc.  Either  of  these  in 
moderate  doses  will  usually  check  the  copious  flow  of  urine. 
Either  of  the  following  will  be  found  sufficient ;  uva  ursi  (bear's 
whortleberry),  powdered,  two  ounces  ;  oak  bark  pulverized,  four 
ounces;  catechu  pulverized,  one  ounce  ;  opium  pulverized,  two 
drachms  :  mix  either  with  molasses  or  honey,  and  divide  into 
six  balls,  giving  one  every  day.  Or,  the  following  may  be 
used  with  equal  advantage  :  opium  pulverized,  half  an  ounce ; 
sulphate  of  iron,  one  ounce ;  gentian  root  pulverized,  one 
ounce :  mix  with  molasses,  and  divide  into  six  balls — one  to  be 
given  every  day. 


BLOODY    XJEINE. 

This  disease,  known  also  as  hematura,  frequently  arises  from 
strains  across  the  loins,  violent  exercise,  unwholesome  food, 
calculous  concretions  in  the  kidneys,  etc.  It  is  not  attended 
by  symptoms  of  general  derangement;  the  appetite  is  not 
usually  impaired,  nor  is  any  marked  degree  of  fever  present. 
The  color  of  the  urine  first  calls  attention,  in  voiding  which 
the  animal  appears  to  strain  slightly. 

If  the  bowels  are  at  all  costive,  injections  should  at  once  be 
thrown  up  the  rectum  ;  linseed  tea  should  be  given  as  a  drink ; 
mustard  applications  to  the  loins.  Give  internally  one  of  the 
following  once  a  day  :  of  sugar  of  lead,  one  ounce ;  linseed 
meal,  two  ounces ;  mix  with  molasses  or  honey,  and  divide 
into  eight  pills ;  follow  this  for  ten  or  twelve  days,  with  one 
drachm  of  sulphuric  acid  in  a  pail  of  water  to  drink.  Catechu, 
logwood,  dragon's  blood,  oak  bark,  etc.,  have  been  used  with 
advantage. 


STONES  IN   THE   KIDNEYS.  2T7 

STONES    IN    THE    KIDNEYS. 

'  These  concretions,  which  are  quite  common  in  the  horse, 
are  of  a  pale,  dirty  yellow  color,  elongated  or  conical  in  form, 
and  much  softer  than  any  of  the  other  varieties  heretofore 
mentioned.  "  We  have  better  evidence,"  says  Mr.  Blain,  "  than 
mere  supposition ;  for  urinary  calculi  (or  stones  in  the  kid- 
neys), have  been  found  in  horses  which  have  died  with  symp- 
toms which  might  have  been  mistaken  for  very  acute  enter- 
itis, or  inflammation  of  the  bowels.  We  may  also  suppose 
that  the  early  accumulations  would  occasion  irregular  and  di- 
minished secretion  of  urine,  followed  at  length  by  a  bloody 
purulent  mixture  with  the  water,  until  more  active  symptoms 
should  arise,  and  carry  off  the  horse.  Concretions  within  tlio 
kidneys  might  be  removed  in  their  early  state  by  remedies 
tending  to  decompose  them  in  the  urinary  pelvis.  For  this 
purpose  we  have  mineral  acids,  of  which  the  hydrochloric,  as 
holding  the  silicious  matter  in  solution,  is  to  be  preferred. 
The  mineral  acids  pass  through  the  body  unchanged,  being 
emitted  with  the  urine  in  a  state  of  purity." 

A  be'tter  opportunity  is  afforded  us  of  discovering  calculus 
In  the  urinary  organs,  than  in  any  other  parts ;  for  an  examina- 
tion of  tlie  urine,  when  placed  under  the  microscope,  will  enable 
us  to  detect  its  presence.  When  these  deposits  are  ascer- 
tained, give  in  every  pail  of  water  which  the  animal  drinks, 
two  drachms  of  hydrochloric  (muriatic)  acid,  which  will  in  a 
short  time  be  drunk  with  a  relish  by  him. 


'£t8  TONES  IN  THE   BLADDER. 

STONES    IN    THE    BLADDER. 

These  differ  from  stones  in  the  kidneys  in  form  and  exter- 
nal appearance;  presenting,  in  consequence  of  the  constant 
washings  of  the  calculus  by  the  urine  an  uneven,  or  what  is 
called  a  mulberry  appearance ;  externally,  it  is  of  a  reddish 
brown  color.  When  these  stones  are  quite  large,  very  great 
inconvenience  is  occasioned  to  the  animal. 

Stones  in  the  bladder  may  exist  a  long  time  before  any  per- 
ceptible symptoms  of  their  existence  are  manifested.  The 
urine  is  generally  thick  and  of  a  whitish  color,  with  frequent 
desire  to  void  the  urine,  accompanied  with  difficulty  and  pain  j 
the  urine  occasionally  presents  a  bloody  appearance ;  in  some 
cases  all  the  symptoms  of  colic  are  present,  rendering  it  diffi- 
cult to  distinguish  between  the  two  disorders.  If  the  pain  is 
severe,  the  animal  paws  violently,  kicks  at  his  sheath,  lies  down, 
rolls,  and  gets  up  again  quickly,  sweats  in  various  parts  of  the 
body,  giving  off  the  odor  of  urine. 

For  treatment,  we  should  first  attempt  the  dissolution  of  the 
stones,  as  recommended  for  stones  in  the  kidneys,  or  we  should 
remove  them  by  the  operation  of  lithotomy,  which  will* be  de- 
scribed under  the  head  of  surgical  operations.  If  they  are 
small,  they  may  sometimes  be  extracted  through  the  urethra,  a 
process  which  is  very  easy  in  the  case  of  mares. 


CONTRACTION   OF  THE   HOOF.  27 5> 

DISEASES  OF  THE  FEET  AND  LEGS. 


CONTRACTION  OP  THE  HOOF. 

To  horses  that  are  kept  in  cities,  or  in  stony  sections  of  the 
country,  this  disease  is  one  of  the  most  common  occurrence.    In 
the  middle  and  southern  portions  of  New  Jersey, 
and  Ohio,  and  in  many  other  sections  where  the 
shoeing  of  the  horse  is 
not  called  for  except  in 
frosty  weather,  contrac- 
tion of  the  hoof  is  com- 
paratively rare,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  feet 
being  unfettered  by  that 
iron  band,  the  shoe 

THE  FAST-TROTTING  STALLIOX,    GEORGE  M.  PATCHEN.  ' 

This  trouble  is  gradual  in  its  approach ;  the  first  indication 
being  a  dry,  brittle,  unyielding  hoof;  the  heels  gradually  be- 
coming narrower,  until  they  are  painful.  The  hoof  no  longer 
accommodates  itself  to  the  soft  structure  within  its  limits,  and, 
in  consequence,  the  concussion  is  greater  and  the  elasticity 
very  much  less.  The  parts  therefore  become  bruised,  and  fever 
ensues,  which  still  further  facilitates  the  contraction  of  the  hoof 
by  absorbing  its  moisture  ;  lameness  follows  as  the  natural  and 
inevitable  result.  Upon  an  examination  of  the  animal  sweenie 
is  decided  upon  by  the  horseman  as  the  disease  to  which  he 
is  subject ;  a  disease,  by  the  way,  which,  we  beg  to  say,  the 
veterinary  surgeon  never  yet  has  met. 

The  primary  cause  of  this  trouble  is,  undoubtedly  bad  shoeing, 
the  preventives  of   which    have  already   been   fully  unfolded. 


230  CORNS. 

Standing  upon  plank-floors  lias  also  a  tendency  to  produce  it, 
as  it  absorbs  the  moisture  of  the  hoof,  and  renders  it  brittle  and 
liable  to  crack.  Traveling  upon  hard  stony  roads,  with  shoes 
that  are  beveled  inwards,  also  predisposes  the  feet  to  this  dis- 
order. 

The  treatment  must,  necessarily,  be  slow  in  its  operation  ;  yet 
by  careful  management  it  is  sure.  The  shoes  must,  in  the  first 
place,  be  removed,  and  the  feet  well  poulticed  for  several  days 
until  the  hoof  and  frogs  become  perfectly  soft.  The  animal 
should  then  be  carefiJlly  shod,  as  heretofore  directed;  apply 
daily,  until  the  heels  are  fully  spread,  the  following  ointment ; 
of  rosin,  four  ounces  ;  beeswax,  four  ounces  ;  lard,  two  pounds  ; 
tallow,  one  pound ;  melt  together,  and,  when  cool,  stir  in  four 
ounces  of  oil  of  turpentine. 


CORNS. 

The  first  effect  of  contraction  of  the  hoof  is  to  bruise  the  sen- 
sitive parts  within  their  horny  limits  at  that  part  of  the  foot 
formed  by  the  crust  and  bar,  causing  lameness,  which  may  be 
acute  or  chronic.  These  bruises  are  commonly  called  corns. 
The  reason  why  this  portion  of  the  foot  should  be  so  severely 
bruised  is  obvious.  The  crust  and  bar  forming  a  triangular  space 
between  which  a  considerable  portion  of  the  sensitive  laminae  lie, 
this  bar  by  its  resistance  of  the  encroachments  of  the  crust,  causes 
a  twofold  pressure  upon  the  sensitive  parts,  acting  much  as 
a  vice,  and  thereby  diminishing  the  triangular  space.  Upon 
examination  of  the  foot  the  horn  is  found  hard,  dry,  and  brittle, 
with  a  Ktroiif^  tendency  to  crack  on  very  slight  concussion.  On 
removing  a  portion  of  the  horn  at  the  part  of  the  foot  indicated, 
the  parts  are  found  to  be  contused,  sometimes  slightly,  and  at 


CORNS.  281 

others  severely.  In  the  latter  case  the  feet  are  in  such  a  con- 
dition as  to  require  prompt  attention,  or  a  sloughing,  or  dis- 
charge of  matter,  may  take  place,  forming  a  sinus,  or  pipe-like 
opening,  through  the  quarter,  sometimes  passing  through  the 
coronet,  and  producing  a  condition,  or  disease,  known  as 
Quitter,  which  often  terminates  in  permanent  lameness  and 
deformity.  -^ 

When  the  lameness  is  of  a  chronic  character,  the  poor  beast, 
owing  to  his  deprivation  of  speed,  is  compelled  to  suffer  all 
kinds  of  barbarous  treatment,  such  as  roweling,  setoning,  etc, 
etc.  As  few  believe  corns  to  be  of  so  serious  a  nature,  the 
most  are  ready  to  attribute  the  lameness  to  a  disease,  or  a  sup- 
posed disease,  which  exists  only  in  their  disordered  imagina- 
tions. 

As  symptomatic  indications,  it  may  be  remarked  that  the 
•horse  extends  one  foot  in  advance  of  the  other,  and  rests  upon 
the  toe,  which  causes  a  bending  of  the  knee,  with  a  hard,  dry, 
brittle,  and  contracted  hoof. 

By  way  of  treatment,  the  hoof,  around  the  corn  should  be 
cut  away  so  as  to  prevent  pressure  from  the  shoe ;  the  corn 
should  be  well  cut  out,  and  burnt  with  a  hot  iron,  butter  of  an- 
timony, muriatic  acid,  caustic  silver,  or  the  permanganate  of 
potash.  He  should  then  be  carefully  shod,  and,  if  the  frog  is 
elastic,  a  bar  shoe  nicely  fitted,  with  a  perfectly  level  bearing, 
would  be  best ;  if,  however,  the  frog  is  hard  and  unyielding,  such 
a  shoe  may  prove  injurious.  Flaxseed  poultices  frequently  ap- 
plied to  the  feet,  together  with  the  use  of  hoof  ointment,  will 
be  found  effectual ;  a  run  at  grass  without  shoes  will  also  prove 
beneficial. 


282        •  THRUSH. 

QUITTER. 

This  is  an  ulceration,  or  formation  of  pus,  between  the  sen- 
sitive and  insensible  laminae,  or  inner  parts  of  the  wall  of  the 
hoof,  generally  situated  on  the  inside  quarter,  forming  sinuses,  or 
pipe-like  openings.  Neglected  corns  often  produce  this  disease, 
as  also  caulking  or  bruises  from  any  cause. 

The  first  appearance  upon  the  foot  on  the  approach  of  this 
disease  is  a  hard  conical  tumor,  hot,  red,  and  smooth,  which 
soon  becomes  soft,  breaks,  and  discharges  pus.  A  probe  should 
first  be  introduced  by  way  of  treatment,  pointing  out  the  direc- 
tion of  the  sinuses  ;  an  injection  of  sulphate  of  zinc,  one  drachm 
dissolved  in  a  pint  of  water,  should  be  thrown  into  the  opening 
in  the  foot  by  the  means  of  a  small  syringe,  once  daily,  and  the 
foot  should  be  occasionally  washed  with  castile  soap  and  water. 
The  early  treatment  should  consist  in  poulticing  with  flaxseed 
meal  for  several  days.  If  the  case  is  very  slow,  use  two  drachms 
of  the  chloride  of  zinc  to  a  pint  of  water ;  inject  in  the  same 
manner ;  cut  away  all  loose  parts  of  the  horn,  which  will  facili- 
tate the  cure.  Glycerine  has  also  been  used  by  the  author  with 
marked  benefit. 


THRUSH. 

This  is  a  discharge  of  a  matter  from  the  cleft  or  division  of 
the  frog,  which  occasionally  produces  lameness.  It  originates 
from  a  filthy  condition  of  the  stable,  the  animal  being  allowed 
to  stand  in  his  dung,  or  upon  foul  litter.  Horses  that  are  well 
cared  for  are  rarely  troubled  with  it.  The  symptoms  are  a  rot- 
tenness of  the  frog,  accompanied  by  a  discharge  of  fetid  matter. 
Lameness  may,  or  may  not,  be  present. 


CANKER.  283 

For  treatment,  wash  the  feet  well  with  soap  and  water ;  fill 
the  cleft  with  powdered  sulphate  of  copper,  and  pack  over  it  a 
little  tow ;  remove  the  filth  from  the  stall,  and  the  animal  soon 
recovers.  An  ointment  may  also  be  used,  made  of  equal  parts 
of  pine-tar  and  lard,  melted  over  a  slow  fire ;  when  cool,  add 
sulphuric  acid  until  ebullition  ceases,  and  it  is  then  fit  for  r.sc. 

CANKEK. 

This  arises  from  neglected  thrush,  often  proving  very  difficult 
to  manage.  It  exte^nds  from  the  horny  frog  to  the  sensitive  frog, 
and  sometimes  to  the  navicular  joint,  involving  the  surrounding 
parts,  and  causing  much  alteration  or  destruction  of  the  structures 
affected.  It  is  by  no  means  always  a  local  disease,  but  is  influ- 
enced by  a  morbid  or  unhealthy  condition  of  the  blood.  The  au- 
thor's attention  was  once  called  to  a  case  of  four  years'  standing, 
in  which  all  the  feet  were  involved,  and  the  value  of  the  animal 
thereby  so  depreciated  that  he  was  sold  to  a  shoeing-smith  of 
Philadelphia  for  the  sum  of  twenty-five  dollars,  his  cost  being 
some  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  All  treatment  had  failed 
up  to  that  time  ;  yet,  notwithstanding  the  long  resistance  of 
the  disease,  it  gradually  yielded  to  constitutional  treatment. 

For  treatment,  all  loose  horn  should  be  removed,  that  the 
parts  may  be  properly  dressed.  If  taken  early,  the  following 
wash  may  be  used  with  success ;  of  nitrate  of  silver,  half  au 
ounce;  water,  one  pint;  shake  well  together,  and  use  once  a 
day.  Or,  the  ointment  of  tar,  lard,  and  sulphuric  acid,  recom- 
mended in  cases  of  thrush,  may  be  usefully  applied.  Should 
this  fail,  apply  once  a  day  the  following  :  of  castor  oil,  one  part ; 
collodion,  two  parts  ;  mix  well  together.  Give  internally  half 
a  drachm  of  powdered  nux  vomica  mixed   in  the  feed,  which 


284  GREASE   HEELS. 

should  consist  of  green  food,  mashes,  and  a  little  hay.  Corro- 
sive sublimate  in  solution  has  been  used  with  decided  advantage; 
as  also  chloride  of  zinc,  chloride  of  lime,  butter  of  antimony, 
tincture  of  myrrh,  sulphate  of  copper,  glycerine,  and  many 
other  preparations. 


SCRATCHES. 

This  disease,  called  also  cracked  heels,  generally  arises  from 
neglect,  such  as  allowing  the  horse  to  stand  in  a  filthy  stall. 
It  is  generally  confined  to  the  hind  feet,  and  consists  in  a 
swelling  of  the  skin,  causing  in  it  one  or  more  transverse 
cracks,  which  discharge  a  sanious  (thin,  serous,  and  reddish) 
matter  at  times ;  while  in  other  cases  the  parts  are  almost  dry 
but  scurfy. 

For  treatment,  wash  well  wnth  soap  and  water ;  take  a  shav- 
ing, or  other  soft,  brush,  and  make  a  lather  of  soap  and  water, 
with  which  mix  a  small  quantity  of  powdered  charcoal ;  rlib  this 
well  in  the  fetlock,  and  let  it  dry,  after  which  it  can  be  rubbed 
off.  Two  or  three  applications  are  generally  successful.  The 
collodion  and  castor  oil  will  also  answer  a  good  purpose  j  a 
physic  ball  should  first  be  given. 


GREASE  HEELS. 

This  is  the  result  of  weakness  in  the  capillary  vessels  or  tne 
feet  and  legs,  and  is  often  preceded  by  dropsical  effusions,  which 
frequently  exist  upon  the  leg  as  far  as  the  hock  or  knee.  Com- 
mon-bred horses  are  supposed  to  be  more  liable  to  this  disease, 
while  thorough-bred  are  comparatively  free  from  its  attacks. 

The  principal  causes  are,  doubtless,  over-feeding  and  want 
of  exercise;  since  we  generally  find  the  disease  associated  with 


GREASE   HEELS. 


285 


a  plethoric  condition  of  the  animal.     As  symptomatic,  the  skin 

at  first  is  hot,  red,  swollen,  and  tender,  and  discharges  a  white 

^^^-^^-^^  -_-_  offensive  matter  of  a  greasy  feeling.     As  the 

disease  advances,  this  discharge  thickens  into 

^^  the  form  of  tears,  and  becomes 

hard,  presenting  a  grapy 

appearance.       Abscesses 

are   sometimes    formed 

about  the  heels,  causing 

the  sloughing  away  of  a 

large  portion  of  them. 

This    disease    requires 
constitutional,  as  well  as 
.THE  cHiLDBEN's  PET.  jQ^al,    trcatmcut.      Give 

internally  for  four  days  one  of  the  following  balls :  of  Barbadoes 
aloes,  one  ounce ;  pulverized  gentian  root,  half  an  ounce ;  pul- 
verized ginger,  two  drachms ;  mix  with  molasses,  and  divide  into 
four  balls.  Follow  this  with  half-drachm  doses  of  nux  vomica 
powdered ;  wash  the  parts  well  with  soap  and  water,  and  apply 
flaxseed  poultices,  mixed  with  a  solution  of  sulphate  of  zinc, 
until  the  inflammation  is  considerably  reduced  ;  then  bathe  care- 
fully either  with  glycerine,  or  a  solution  of  sulphate  of  zinc,  or 
the  castor  oil  and  collodion  wash.  If  the  discharge  is  very 
offensive,  use  powdered  charcoal  and  soap  suds,  allowing  it  to 
dry  upon  the  legs ;  a  solution  of  the  chloride  of  lime  may  also 
be  used ;  or  a  weak  solution  of  corrosive  sublimate  is  bene- 
ficial. 


286  WATER  FARCT. 

WATER  FARCY. 

This  disease,  together  with  anasarca  and  oedema  may  be  classed 
under  a  common  head,  as  they  are  but  modifications  of  the  same 
disease,  which  depends  upon  general  debility  for  its  existence. 
Two  stages  are,  however,  said  to  exist ;  one  with  inflammation, 
and  the  other  without ;  one  occurring  in  old  horses,  and  the 
other  in  young  ones.  One  important  difl'erence  should  be  noted ; 
the  term  anasai^ca  is  too  extensive  in  its  application  to  be 
properly  associated  with  this  disease,  the  term  oedema  being 
preferable  to  it,  as  having  a  local  meaning  and  being  more  cir- 
cumscribed in  its  limits. 

As  symptoms,  the  legs,  belly,  sheath,  and  other  parts  become 
swollen,  and  leave  the  impression  of  the  fingers  behind  after 
pressure.  In  old  horses  such  pressure  rarely  causes  pain,  in- 
flammation being  absent ;  but  in  young  horses  the  legs  particu- 
larly are  hot  and  painful  to  the  touch. 

In  this  disease  we  must  depend  upon  tonic  and  diuretic  me- 
dicines ;  tonic,  for  the  purpose  of  building  up  the  system  ;  and 
diuretic,  to  increase  the  secretions.  The  two  should  be  com- 
bined as  foUow^s :  of  sulphate  of  iron,  two  ounces;  pulverized 
gentian  root,  one  ounce;  pulverized  ginger,  half  an  ounce; 
nitrate  of  potash,  one  ounce  ;  mix,  and  divide  into  eight  powders, 
giving  one  night  and  morning,  with  good  nourishing  food,  and 
allowing  no  corn.  Or,  the  following  will  be  found  very  useful : 
of  sulphate  of  copper,  one  ounce;  pulverized  gentian  root,  one 
and  a  half  ounces;  pulverized  ginger,  half  an  ounce  ;  nitre,  one 
ounce ;  ground  anise  seed,  six  drachms  ;  mix,  and  divide  into 
eight  powders,  giving  one  night  and  morning.  Hand-rubbing 
and  daily  exercise  will  be  necessary. 


CRACKED   HOOF.  287 

WEED. 

This  is  a  disease  similar  to  oedema,  but  makes  its  appearance 
above  the  hock,  and  extends  downward.  The  skin  is  hot,  and 
extremely  sensitive  to  the  touch  ;  so  much  so  that  the'  animal 
throws  the  leg  upward  and  outward  as  though  to  escape  tor- 
ture.    The  veins  of  the  leg  are  full  and  corded. 

For  treatment,  apply  warm  fomentations  to  the  parts  affected, 
and  give  a  purging  ball,  followed  by  the  powders  recommended 
in  the  last  disease. 


CBACKED  HOOF. 

This  disease,  also  called  sand-crack,  occurs  only  in  the  hoof 
that  is  dry,  hard,  brittle,  and  contracted.  The  hoof  in  a 
natural,  elastic  condition  can  be  bruised,  but  not  split  up  if 
double  the  force  that  splits  the  dry,  contracted  hoof  is  applied. 
This  crack  occurs  most  generally  at  the  quarters,  and  almost  al- 
ways in  the  fore  feet,  they  being  almost  alone  subject  to  con- 
traction. If  the  crack  extends  through  the  hoof  it  causes  very 
painful  lameness. 

For  treatment,  the  foot  must  first  be  carefully  examined  to 
see  that  no  dirt  has  worked  in  under  the  hoof ;  the  loose  parts 
of  the  horn  must  be  cut  away  ;  a  pledget  of  tow,  saturated  with 
sulphate  or  chloride  of  zinc,  or  tincture  of  myrrh,  should  be  ap- 
plied, and  a  bandage  carefully  put  on  to  keep  it  in  place  and 
keep  out  the  dirt.  As  soon  as  the  new  horn  has  grown  down 
a  little,  draw  a  line  across  the  top  of  the  crack  with  a  draw- 
incr-knife  or  firing-iron,  anfl  apply  a  little  tar  or  hoof  ointment. 
If  the  crack  is  at  the  toe,  a  shoe  with  a  band  running  across 
from  the  heels  to  a  little  below  the  coronet  in  front,  and  united 


288  PRICKINQ. 

by  two  screws,  will  often  be  all  that  is  required,  and  the  horse 
may  be  kept  at  work ;  but  in  quarter-crack  it  is  unsafe  to  use 
the  animal,  particularly  if  it  extends  through  to  the  soft  parts. 
If  the  frog  is  in  a  healthy  condition,  which  is  rarely  the  case, 
a  bar  shoe,  eased  at  the  quarter,  will  be  found  beneficial. 


SOLE    BEUISE    AND    GRAVEL. 

Accidents  frequently  occur  to  the  feet  of  horses  from  their 
striking  them  forcibly  upon  stones  and  other  hard  substances. 
Pressure  of  the  shoe  upon  the  sole  is  the  occasional  cause  of 
bruises  of  that  part  of  the  foot ;  and  tender  heels  more  fre- 
quently arise  from  bruises  than  from  any  other  cause. 

For  treatment,  if  pus  is  secreted  within  the  hoof — which 
may  be  discovered  by  the  acute  pain  caused  by  a  light  tap  of 
&  hammer  on  that  part  of  the  hoof  under  which  the  matter  is 
situated — the  hoof  must  be  cut  through,  that  the  matter  may 
escape,  as  it  will  gradually  work  its  way  upward  and  make  its 
appearance  at  the  top  of  the  hoof,  thus  rendering  the  treat- 
ment more  difficnlt.  After  the  matter  escapes  through  the 
opening  so  made,  throw  in  an  injection  of  sulphate  of  zinc  in 
solution,  one  drachm  to  a  pint  of  water.  For  the  treatment 
will  be  the  same  as  recommended  in  quitter.  Gravel  some- 
times works  into  these  wounds,  which  must  always  be  removed, 
and  the  parts  carefully  washed. 


PRICKING. 

This  is  an  accident  of  too  frequent  occurrence,  and  happens 
in  various  ways,  as  by  treading  upon  sharp  bodies,  such  as 
broken  glass,  nails,  etc.,  etc.     It  occurs  more  frequently,  how- 


^  FALSE   QUARTER.  289 

CTer,  in  shoeing,  owing  to  the  nail  not  being  properly  pointed^ 
or,  in  some  cases,  from  the  iron  not  being  good  splits,  one 
part  turning  inward  and  the  other  outward.  These  acci- 
dents are  not  always  the  fault  of  the  smith,  and  he  should  not 
be  unjustly  censured  for  what  he  could  not  obviate.  If  such 
punctures  are  properly  attended  to,  serious  consequences  rarely 
ensue.  The  practice  of  closing  up  the  wound  after  removing 
the  nail,  glass,  or  other  sharp  substance  cannot  be  too  strongly 
condemned.  It  is  doubtless  in  consequence  of  this  senseless 
practice  that  so  many  horses  are  lost  from  lock-jaw,  which 
does  not  generally  make  its  appearance  until  the  animal  has 
apparently  recovered  from  the  wound ;  though  upon  an  exami- 
nation of  the  foot  pus  will  often  be  found  secreted  within  the 
hoof. 

When  a  horse  picks  up  a  nail,  or  is  pricked  by  the  smith,  a 
poultice  should  at  once  be  applied  to  the  foot,  and  kept  on 
for  several  days ;  a  cathartic  ball  should  also  be  given,  that  the 
bowels  may  be  in  good  order ;  after  the  removal  of  the  poul- 
tice, apply  the  tar  ointment,  and  no  further  trouble  may  be 
anticipated. 

FALSE    QUAKTEK. 

This  is  an  imperfect  formation  of  horn  at  the  quarter,  which 
is  generally  of  a  lighter  color  than  the  other  part  of  the  hoof, 
and  is  divided  by  a  seam  from  the  top  to  the  bottom.  It  is 
the  result  of  injury  from  quitter  and  other  diseases,  rendering 
the  heels  weak,  and  requires  the  protection  of  a  bar  shoe, 
which  should  never  bear  upon  it,  as  it  mav  occasion  lameness. 
19 


290  FOUNDER. 

FOUNDER. 

Founder,  or  laminitis,  is  an  inflammatory  condition  of  the 
laminoe  of  the  feet,  which  are  the  most  sensitive  parts  of  these 
important  appendages.  Founder  is  said  to  be  produced  by 
various  causes,  such  as  hard  driving,  watering  when  warm, 
standing  in  a  draught  of  air,  or  upon  plank  floors,  and  many 
others. 

The  author,  however,  views  it  in  a  different  light,  attributing 
its  existence  principally  to  one  general  cause,  namely,  contrac- 
tion of  the  hoof,  the  causes  before  named  being  the  immediate 
or  exciting  causes.  This  view  is  sustained  by  many  facts. 
Founder  does  not  occur  in  one  case  out  of  fifty  in  a  healthy, 
open  foot;  nor  are  the  hind  feet  often  involved,  as  they  are 
rarely  in  a  contracted  condition. 

The  symptoms  are  a  full,  quick  pulse,  from  sixty  upwards ; 
accelerated  respiration ;  the  fore  feet  are  hot  and  tender,  the 
animal  for  relief  throwing  his  body  back  upon  the  hind  legs, 
extending  the  fore  legs  until  he  rests  upon  the  heels,  and 
sometimes  lying  down,  particularly  if  the  hind  feet  are  involved ; 
the  animal  also  manifests  much  pain. 

If  the  animal  is  in  full  condition,  two  quarts  of  blood 
should  be  taken  from  each  of  the  fore  feet ;  an  active  purging 
ball  should  be  given,  followed  by  one-drachm  doses  of  bella- 
donna made  into  pills  every  four  hours  ;  poultices  of  flaxseed 
meal  should  be  applied  to  the  feet  for  several  days ;  injections 
of  soap  and  water,  also  ought  not  to  be  neglected.  By  this 
treatment  the  animal  is  usually  well  again  in  a  week,  or  even 
less;  but  if  the  disease  is  neglected  until  it  becomes  chronic, 
the  animal  will  ever  after  remain  unsound,  though  he  may  be 


CORINITIS.  291 

rendered  useful.  From  the  alteration  or  disorganization  of 
structure  that  takes  place,  there  can  little  be  done  in  the 
chronic  stage  except  careful  shoeing,  which  the  smith  should 
understand. 


PUMICED    FOOT. 

This  is  called  by  horsemen  a  falling  of  the  sole.  It  is  pre- 
ceded by  founder,  and  is,  in  reality,  one  of  the  terminations 
of  that  disease,  arising  from  the  slow,  continued  inflammation 
of  chronic  founder,  which  causes  absorption  of  the  outer  edge 
of  the  coffin  bone,  the  latter  thereby  gradually  losing  its  con- 
cave surface,  and  becomiug  convex.  The  sole,  yielding  to 
this  gradual  change,  becomes  flat,  or,  in  some  instances,  con- 
vex. Yery  little  can  be  done  in  such  cases  by  way  of  treat- 
ment ;  yet  by  careful  shoeing  the  animal  may  be  rendered  use- 
ful, although  never  sound. 


CORINITIS. 

This  is  an  inflammation  of  the  coronary  ligament,  situated 
■within  the  upper  part  of  the  hoof  and  between  the  hoof  and  the 
hair.  This  ligament  secretes  the  horn  forming  the  wall  or 
crust  of  the  hoof,  and  when  diseased  ceases  to  perform  its 
function,  or  performs  it  very  imperfectly  ;  as  a  consequence, 
the  coronet,  or  upper  margin  of  the  hoof,  is  contracted,  which 
causes  the  soft  parts  to  bulge  out  in  such  a  manner  that  it  has 
often  been  mistaken  for  ring-bone.  This  contraction  often 
causes  lameness.  The  most  frequent  causes  are,  standing  upon 
plank  floors,  hard  driving,  and  the  neglect  to  apply  softening 
applications  to  the  hoof. 

For  treatment,  apply  a  flaxseed  poultice  for  several  days,  and 


292  NAVICULARTHRITIS. 

then  a  fly  blister  well  rubbed  in  around  the  upper  margin  of  the 
hoof;  afterward  use  the  hoof  ointment  once  a  day,  until  the 
coronet  d)mes  up  full. 


NAVICULAKTHRITIS. 

Coffin-joint  lameness,  as  it  is  generally  termed,  is  a  dis- 
ease of  very  common  occurrence,  and  often  troublesome  to 
manage.  This  joint  is  formed  by  the  union  of  three  bones : 
the  OS  pedis,  or  coffin-bone,  situated  immediately  within 
the  hoof;  the  coronary,  or  small  pastern  bone,  the  lower 
half  of  which  is  situated  witliin  the  upper  part  of  the  hoof, 
^^=-.,  called  the  coronet,  and  uniting  with  the 
OS  pedis;  and  the  navicular,  situated  be- 
tween and  behind 
the  two,  uniting 
with  both,  and 
forming  the  navi- 
cular joint.  This 
joint  is  protected 

THE  FAMOUS  TROTTING  MARE,   FLORA  TEMPLE.  againSt  HljUry  irOm 

concussion  by  the  fatty  frog,  the  sensible  frog,  and  the  horny 
frog,  situated  beneath  it,  and  forming  a  soft  elastic  cushion  on 
which  it  may  rest.  So  long  as  the  foot  remains  in  a  healthy 
condition,  there  is  little  danger  of  the  occurrence  of  this  dis- 
ease. Even  though  the  foot  be  strained  very  considerably, 
and  a  high  degree  of  inflammatory  action  be  produced,  this 
disease  will  hardly  arise,  unless  the  inflammation  becomes 
chronic.  The  author  regards  its  origin  as  mainly  due  to  a 
contracted  condition  of  the  feet,  which,  in  fact,  is  the  predis- 
posing cause. 


OSSIFICATION    OF   THE    LATERAL   CARTILAGES.  293 

Rarely,  indeed,  is  navicular-joint  lameness  found  existing  in 
feet  that  have  open  heels  and  elastic  frogs.  If  from  any  cause 
these  frogs  lose  their  mois.ture,  they  also  lose  their  elasticity, 
and  the  foot  therefore  strikes  the  ground  with  a  jar ;  inflamma- 
tion of  a  chronic  character  sets  in  ;  the  synovia  (joint-oil)  be- 
comes absorbed ;  and  caries  of  the  bones  is  established,  which 
destroys  their  articular  surfaces  and  causes  excessive  lameness. 
Occasionally,  owing  to  some  new  injury,  acute  inflammation 
sets  in,  causing  new  depositions  of  bone  to  be  thrown  out,  and 
uniting  the  three  bones  together ;  which  union  is  called  anchy- 
losis. This  condition  may  be  known  by  stiffness,  and  the 
animal  walking  upon  the  toe. 

The  symptoms  of  this  disease  have  been  confounded  with 
those  of  another  disease  of  the  foot,  which  has  been  discovered 
by  recent  investigations.  The  horse  is  found  to  go  lame  upon 
coming  out  of  the  stable,  which  wears  off  after  traveling  some 
distance;  one  foot  is  observed  in  advance  of  the  other  when 
the  animal  is  at  rest ;  as  the  disease  advances,  the  lameness 
becomes  more  frequent,  until  at  last  it  is  permanent.  Ya^us 
kinds  of  treatment  have  been  resorted  to,  but  with  little 
success,  such  as  blistering,  firing,  etc.  Of  late  years,  the  frog 
seton  has  been  introduced  with  very  decided  benefit.  Should 
this,  too,  fail,  there  is  no  hope  but  in  the  operation  of  nerving, 
which  should  only  be  performed  in  certain  cases  mentioned 
under  the  head  of  neurotomy. 


OSSIFICATION    OF    THE    IiATERAL    CARTILAGES. 

This  is  a  transformation  to  bone  of  two  projections  of  car- 
tilage, or  gristle,  springing  from  each  side  of  the  coffin  bone 
posteriorly,  and  known  as  the  lateral  cartilages.     This  disease 


294  SPRUNG   OR  BROKEN  KNEES. 

was  at  one  time  called  ring-bone,  but  the  ring-bone  of  tlie 
present  day  is  quite  a  different  disease.  It  arises  from  con- 
cussion, and  will  rarely  be  found  in  any  but  contracted  feet. 

The  treatment  in  these  cases  is  only  palliative,  as  the  dis- 
ease cannot  be  eradicated  by  any  course  of  medical  treatment. 
The  first  endeavor  should  be  to  expand  the  heels  by  applying 
poultices  to  the  feet,  together  with  the  hoof  ointment. 


WIND    GALLS. 

Wind  galls  are  puffy  swellings  about  the  joints,  found  above 
the  fetlock  on  both  the  hind  and  fore  legs.  They  are  techni- 
cally  known  as  bursal  enlargements,  that  is,  a  distended  con- 
dition of  the  hursce  or  synovial  sacs,  which  contain  the 
synovia,  or  joint  oil.  The  animal  suffers  no  inconvenience, 
apparently,  from  their  presence  upon  his  limbs,  they  evidently 
causing  no  pain. 

It  is  seldom  that  any  treatment  is  resorted  to,  except  in  the 
case  of  a  very  valuable  animal.  Blisters  are  commonly  ap- 
plied, but  they  are  not  attended  with  any  permanent  benefit. 
The  application  of  cold  water  and  compresses,  secured  by 
means  of  bandaging  the  legs,  has  proven  the  most  efQcaelous. 


SPRUNa    OR    BROKEN"    KNEES. 

This  trouble  does  not  always  result  from  an  injury  of  the 
leg,  or  strain  of  the  tendons ;  it  is  more  often  found  in  horsea 
that  have  bad  corns  in  the  feet,  or  troubled  with  naviculai: 
disease,  than  in  any  others.  The  animal  raising  his  heels  ta 
prevent  pressure  upon  the  tender  parts,  bends  the  knee,  which 
bending  becomes  finally,  from  the  altered  position  of  the  limb^ 


STRAINS   OF   THE    KNEES.  295 

a  permanent  deformity.  Horses  with  sprung  knees  are  unsafe 
for  saddle  purposes,  owing  to  their  consequent  liability  to 
stumble. 

Respecting  the  treatment,  it  may  be  said  that  six  out  of 
every  ten  sprung-kneed  horses  will  be  found  to  have  corns. 
If  these  be  of  recent  growth,  there  is  a  fair  prospect  of 
straightening  the  limbs  by  removing  the  corns  as  directed 
under  the  head  of  that  disease ;  by  the  removal  of  these  the 
heels  are  brought  to  the  ground,  and  the  limb  becomes  straight. 
Under  any  other  circumstances  all  treatment  proves  useless. 


BEEAKING  DOW2Q-. 
This  accident  occurs  in  running,  jumping,  racing,  etc.  It 
is  sometimes  called  a  strain  of  the  back  sinews,  and  lets  the 
animal  down  upon  the  fetlock,  in  consequence  of  a  rupture  of 
the  ligament  of  the  pastern.  Horses  meeting  with  this  acci- 
dent are  of  little  value  ever  after,  as  they  always  remain  weak 
in  the  fetlock.  Unless  the  animal  is  quite  young  and  valuable, 
the  treatment  would  cost  more  than  the  animal's  value.  The 
French  treat  these  cases  vei*y  successfully  by  the  application 
of  instruments  which  keep  the  limb  in  its  proper  position  until 
the  parts  have  again  healed  and  become  strong.  This  is  the 
only  course  to  be  pursued  with  any  possible  chance  of  a  suc- 
cessful termination  of  the  case. 


STRAINS    OF    THE    KNEES. 

Strains  of  this  joint  occur  in  young  horses  while  being 
broken  into  harness  more  often,  probably,  than  at  any  other 
period  of  the  aiiimal's  life.     This  results  from  the  tenderness 


296  SHOULDER   STRAIN. 

of  the  parts  at  that  time,  not  one  in  twenty  having  them  having 
arrived  at  maturity.  These  strains  often  prove  troublesome 
to  manage,  and  occasionally  leave  a  stiff  knee  as  the  result. 

Treatment — Bleeding  from  the  plantar,  or  plate  vein ;  warm 
fomentations  to  the  part ;  when  the  inflammation  is  reduced, 
apply  once  a  day  for  several  days  the  following  ointment; 
iodine  ointment,  one  ounce ;  blue,  or  mercurial  ointment,  half 
an  ounce  ;  mix  well  together. 


iSTRAIN    OF    THE    HIP    JOINT. 

This  occurs  in  falling,  slipping,  getting  up,  etc.  The  symp- 
toms are  a  dragging  motion  of  the  limb ;  the  lameness  passing 
off  after  the  animal  gets  warmed  up,  and  returning  upon  his 
becoming  again  cool,  the  horse  being  then  even  more  stiff 
and  lame  than  before  leaving  the  stable. 

For  treatment,  apply  cold  water ;  a  purging  ball  and  rest 
are  all  that  are  requisite  to  effect  a  cure.  Careful  usage  for 
some  time  after  will  be  very  necessary. 


SHOULDER    STRAIN. 

This, 'which  is  of  rare  occurrence,  arises  from  severe  blows, 
or  concussions  ;  slipping  so  as  to  throw  the  legs  apart  forcibly ; 
falling  in  the  shafts  of  a  heavily  laden  dart,  etc.  The  symp- 
toms are  usually  well  marked ;  the  horse  is  quite  lame,  both 
when  walking  and  trotting  ;  the  leg  drags  with  the  toe  on  the 
ground,  having  an  outward  or  circular  motion. 

Local  bleeding  is  generally  useful  by  way  of  treatment; 
three  or  four  quarts  may  be  taken  from  the  plate  vein,  which 
runs  down  the  inside  of  the  leg.  If,  however,  the  animal  is  in 
a  debilitated  condition,   bleeding    should  not  be   practised. 


SWEENIE.  ^9J 

Foment  the  shoulder  well  with  hot  water  frequently  ;  a  seton 
will  often  be  found  beneficial.  After  fomenting  two  or  three 
days,  use  the  following  liniment :  laudanum,  one  ounce  ;  spirits 
of  camphor,  one  ounce ;  tincture  of  myrrh,  one  ounce  ;  castile 
Boap,  one  ounce ;  alcohol,  one  pint.  Or,  sweet  oil,  one  pint ; 
spirits  of  hartshorn,  three  ounces ;  shake  well  together. 


OPEN    JOINTS. 

These  are  generally  the  result  of  a  punctured  wound ;  the 
capsular  ligament  that  surrounds  the  joint  and  confines  the 
joint  oil  within  its  proper  limits  being  thereby  penetrated. 
Tiiese  accidents  are  often  attended  with  serious  results,  from 
the  inflammation  that  is  likely  to  arise  from  such  an  injury. 

For  treatment,  efforts  should  first  be  made  to  close  the 
wound,  that  the  escape  of  the  oil  which  lubricates  the  joint 
may  be  prevented.  If  the  wound  is  small,  it  may  be  closed 
by  means  of  a  hot  iron  ;  if  large,  shave  off  all  the  hair  around 
the  opening,  apply  a  piece  of  linen  cloth  well  saturated  with 
collodion,  and  bandage  the  part.  Care  must  be  taken  to  have 
the  skin  around  the  wound  perfectly  dry,  or  the  collodion  will 
not  adhere.  Shoemaker's  wax,  or  common  glue,  applied  in 
the  same  way,  will  frequently  answer  the  purpose.  The 
animal  must  be  kept  perfectly  quiet,  his  bowels  opened,  and  he 
be  kept  upon  his  feet  for  several  days ;  if,  however,  the  collo- 
dion adheres  well,  this  is  not  of  so  much  importance. 


SWEENIE. 

This  imaginary  disease  has  been  the  occasion  of  the  infliction 
of  much  cruelty  and  unnecessary  torture  upon  the  horse.     No 


298 


OSTITIS. 


respectable  veterinary  author  recognizes  any  sucli  disease. 
The  symptoms  which  accompany  its  supposed  existence  are 
but  sympathetic  effects,  or  atrophy  of  the  muscles  of  the 
shoulder.  The  attention  of  the  horse-owner  is  directed  to  a 
wasting  away  or  lessening  of  these  muscles,  which  from  want 
of  action  naturally  become  smaller  or  contracted ;  upon  the 


animal's  regaining  the  natu 
cles  are  again  developed,  as 
arm  by  the  constant 
mer.     Cases  called 
the  result  of  injury 
as  the  knee, 
When    the 


THE   EQUESTRIENNE 


the   foot! 

ground,  itj 

ed    upon 

is    not    i  n 

however,  the  leg  drags  with  the  toe  on  the  ground,  the  injury 

may  be  looked  for  in  that  locality.     It  is,  however,  more  easy 

to  decide  a  case  of  shoulder  lameness  than  any  other  to  which 

the  limb  is  liable. 


ral  use  of  the  limb,  the  mus- 
the  muscles  of  the  smith's 
use  of  the  sledge  ham- 
sweenie  are  invariably 
in  some  remote  parts, 
the  foot,  etc. — 
animal  picks  up 
^clear    from   the 
^^^may  be  depend- 
that   the   injury 
the  shoulder ;  if 


OSTITIS. 

This  is  an  inflammation  of  the  bone,  occasioning  lameness 
of  an  obscure  nature,  and  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  of  air 
cases  of  lameness  to  detect.  Where  it  occurs  iu  the  cannon 
bone,  it  is  often  mistaken  for  a  thickening  of  the  integuments. 

Treatment  —  Cold  bandages,  lead  water,  rest,  with  daily 
half-drachm  doses  of  iodide  of  potassa  dissolved  in  a  pail  of 


CAPULET  AND  CAPPED  HOCK.  299 

water,  will  usually  prove  successful  if  the  treatment  be  per- 
severingly  adopted. 


CAPULET  AND  CAPPED  HOCK. 

There  are  generally  serous  abscesses,  produced  by  blows, 
bruises,  strains,  or  injuries  from  any  cause.  Capulet  is  an  en- 
largement at  the  point  of  the  elbow,  and  is  generally  caused  by 
lying  on  the  heels  of  the  shoe,  which  bruise  the  part.  Capped 
bock  is  found  at  the  point  of  the  hock  joint,  and  is  usually 
caused  by  kicking  against  the  sides  of  the  stall. 

By  W' ay  of  treatment,  first  open  the  part ;  if  it  contains  fluid, 
which  will  be  known  by  the  soft  elastic  feeling,  throw  in  with 
a  syringe  an  injection  of  the  tincture  of  iodine  diluted  with 
alcohol ;  a  solution  of  the  sulphate  of  zinc  may  in  incipient  cases 
answer  the  purpose.  If  fluid  is  not  formed,  blisters  will  often 
succeed.  In  cases  of  capulet,  have  the  heels  of  the  shoes 
shortened,  or  bind  the  feet  at  night  to  prevent  injury. 


CAKIES  OF  THE  BOK'ES. 

This  is,  perhaps,  the  most  common  of  all  the  diseases  to 
which  the  horse  is  subject,  and  its  frequency  can  only  be  ac- 
counted for,  by  the  abuses  to  which  he  is  sul)jected.  It  gene- 
rally arises  from  a  low,  inflammatory  condition  of  the  joints, 
these  parts  being  principally  affected  ;  an  ulceration  of  the  heads 
of  the  bones  is  established,  generally  in  young  horses,  which  is 
called,  from  the  destruction  which  it  occasions,  caries,  or  decay. 
It  will  usually  be  found  preceding  spavin,  ring-bone,  stiff  back, 
and  other  anchylosed  conditions  of  the  bones,  and  can  best  be 
illustrated  under  the  heads  of  Spavin  and  Ring-bone. 


800  BONE  SPAVIN. 

BONE  SPAVIN. 

This  is  a  disease  of  such  common  occurrence  that  almost  all 
horsemen  think  they  fully  understand  its  nature,  pathological 
condition,  and  treatment.  It  is  generally  regarded  by  veteri- 
nary authors  as  a  very  serious  injury,  destructive  to  the  utility 
of  the  animal,  and  very  frequently  reducing  his  value  essentially 
in  consequence  of  the  blemishes.  Where,  however,  there  are 
no  outward  blemishes,  as  is  the  case  in  four  out  of  every  five 
spavined  horses,  the  price  of  the  animal  is  not  affected,  unless 
he  is  lame,  since  the  disease  is  not  discovered.  There  are,  at 
this  day,  thousands  of  spavined  horses  traveling  our  roads,  in 
not  one  of  whom  w^ould  the  most  experienced  horsemen  the 
world  ever  produced  be  able  to  determine  the  fact  so  long  as 
the  animal  lives.  In  all  such  cases  no  external  enlargement  is 
found,  but,  on  the  contrary,  the  limb  is  clean  and  smooth.  In 
the  absence  of  enlargement,  or  spavin-bunch,  as  it  is  sometimes 
called,  on  the  inside  of  the  hock-joint,  horsemen  are  unwilling 
to  believe  that  spavin  exists.  The  books,  indeed,  teach  us  to 
look  there,  and  there  only,  for  it;  but  the  author's  experience 
teaches  him  that  the  enlargement,  where  any  exists,  appears 
almost  as  often  upon  the  front  part  of  the  hock  as  it  does  upon 
the  inside. 

Spavin  generally  arises  from  a  strain,  jar,  or  blow  upon  the 
hock-joint,  causing  an  inflammatory  condition  of  the  cartilagi- 
nous cushions  which  cover  the  articular  surfaces,  or  points  of 
union,  of  each  bone,  or  of  the  ligaments  which  surround  the 
joints  and  bind  the  bones  together ;  sometimes,  indeed,  both 
are  involved.  As  this  inflammatory  condition  is  the  exciting 
cause,  spavin,  or  ulceration  of  the  parts,  speedily  follows  the 


BONE  SPAVIX.  SOI 

• 

neglect  to  remove  it.  When  the  inflammation  is  acute,  the 
synovial  fluid,  or  joint-oil,  is  soon  absorbed ;  the  cartilages  of 
the  joint  are  turned  to  bone,  and  uniting,  one  with  the  other, 
form  one  solid  mass,  destroying  the  elasticity  as  well  as  the  mo- 
bility of  the  parts  involved,  and  constituting  what  is  called 
anchylosis  of  the  hock-joint.  This  anchylosis,  or  union  of  bone, 
is  not  always  general,  there  being  in  many  cases  but  two,  three, 
or  four  of  the  bones  involved.  When  these  changes  are  con- 
fined to  the  cartilage,  external  enlargement,  or  spavin-bunch,  is 
never  found.  This  the  author  calls  spavin  without  any  external 
indication. 

When,  however,  the  ligaments  surrounding  the  joint  are  con- 
verted into  bony  substance,  external  enlargement  in  all  cases 
exists.  When  a  low,  inflammatory  action  is  found  going  oa 
within  the  joint,  it  is  an  evidence  of  ulceration,  in  which,  in- 
stead of  new  bone  being  thrown  out,  as  in  the  acute  stage,  the 
natural  bone  is  gradually  decaying  or  rotting  away.  Hence 
arises  the  difficulty  often  experienced  in  the  treatment  of  this 
disease. 

As  symptoms,  the  horse  is  very  lame  on  leaving  the  stable, 
but  when  he  is  warmed  up  the  lameness  passes  off;  the  leg  is 
drawn  up  quickly  with  a  kind  of  jerk ;  and  there  is  a  peculiar 
hard  tread,  which  can  only  be  distinguished  by  close  observa- 
tion. Where  the  bones  are  all  united  together,  whether  there 
is  external  enlargement  or  not,  there  is  a  peculiar  twist  of  the 
heel  outwards,  which  is  more  readily  observed  in  the  walk,  and 
which  the  author  lias  always  found  an  infallible  symptom  of 
complete  anchylosis. 

Both  spavin  and  ring-bone  are  incurable  diseases.  The 
lameness  may  be  removed,  but  the  disease,  when  once  estab- 


302 


BONE   SPAVIN. 


THE  HIOH-BRED  PACING  MARE  POCAHONTAS. 


lished,  cannot,  because  the  elasticity,  mobility,  and  function 
of  the  joint  are  all  destroyed  in  proportion  to  the  extent  of 
the  disease.  The  spavined  animal,  therefore,  comes  down  with 
a  hard,  jarring  tread.  The  removal  of  the  lameness  depends 
upon  perfect  union  or  solidifying  of  the  diseased  bones.  In 
the  acute  inflammatory  cases,  nature 
herself  unaided 
works  this  change, 
and  the  animal  re- 
covers from  the 
lameness  with  a 
stiff  joint ;  but  in 
the  second,  or  ul- 
cerative stage,  assistance  is  required.  We,  therefore,  en- 
deavor to  excite  an  active  inflammation  in  the  joint  in  order 
to  overcome  this  ulcerative  process,  and  induce  new  deposits 
of  bone  to  be  thrown  out.  Many  modes  have  been  adopted  to 
secure  the  desired  end,  some  of  which  are  of  a  most  barbarous 
character.  Sharp  instruments  have  been  struck  with  con- 
siderable force  into  the  joint,  creating  a  tremendous  fire, 
which  soon  checks  the  ulceration.  This  practice,  although 
often  successful,  is  unnecessarily  severe,  and  cruel  in  the  ex- 
treme. AIL  kinds  of  caustic  applications  have  been  used, 
many  of  which  have  destroyed  both  the  disease  and  the  animal. 
Blistering  the  parts,  the  action  being  kept  up  for  three  or  four 
weeks,  often  proves  successful ;  firing  is  also  practised  ;  setons 
in  the  hock  are  frequently  used  with  advantage.  The  follow- 
ing ointment  is  recommended  ;  bin-iodide  of  mercury,  one 
drachm ;  lard,  two  ounces  ;   mix  well  together.     Shave  off  the 


SPLINT.  302. 

hair,  and  rub  the  part  once  a  day  for  six  or  eight  days  ;  then 
wash  the  parts  well  with  proof  spirits.  If  the  desired  effect 
is  not  produced,  repeat  it. 

HING-BOITE. 

This  is  a  disease  of  the  same  nature  as  spavin,  its  locality 
alone  giving  it  a  different  name ;  the  same  alterations  of  struc- 
ture takes  place ;  the  sames  termination  follows,  and  the  same 
treatment  is  indicated.  Contraction  of  the  coronary  ligaments 
is  sometimes  mistaken  for  ring-bone, .and  the  poor  beast  is 
severely  tortured  in  consequence.  Contraction  of  this  liga- 
ment produces  a  bulging  of  the  soft  parts  around  the  coronet, 
causing  the  hair  to  turn  downward  and  inward  upon  the  hoof, 
giving  it  much  the  appearance  of  ring-bone.  As  in  all  such 
cases  the  heels  are  pressed  close  aud  painfully  together,  there 
is  great  necessity  of  distinguishing  between  the  two  before 
any  application  is  made. 


SPLINT. 

This  is  an  exostosis,  or  bony  enlargement,  arising  from  blows 
upon,  or  strains  of,  the  splint  bones,  which  are  situated  one  on 
each  side  of  the  cannon  bones  and  posterior  to  them.  Splints 
are  so  common  that  few  horses  reach  the  age  of  eight  years 
without  having  them,  although  they  are  not  always  visible  to 
the  eye  at  that  period,  having  perhaps  spread  over  a  large 
surface  of  bone,  or  become  flattened  ;  which  circumstance  has 
given  rise  to  the  opinion  among  horsemen  that  old  horses  are 
not  affected  with  splints.  This,  however,  is  a  mistake  ;  since 
a  splin-t  once  formed  is  never  afterward  removed  during  the 
life  of  the  animal.     The  nature  of  a  splint  is  very  similar  to 


304  CURB. 

that  of  a  spavin,  but  its  course  is  somewhat  different.  When 
the  injury  is  first  received,  the  enlargement  becomes  quite 
prominent ;  but,  as  time  advances,  it  generally  disappears  from 
view,  even  without  the  aid  of  man,  spreading  itself  between 
the  cannon  and  splint  bones,  thus  lessening  its  size  externally. 
Splints  are  not  regarded  as  unsoundness,  unless  they  cause 
lameness,  which  rarely  occurs,  particularly  if  they  are  situated 
near  the  middle  of  the  bone  ;  but  if  they  are  situated  either  at 
the  upper  or  lower  portions,  or  heads,  lameness  is  almost  always 
the  result.  This  is  easily  explained ;  the  bone,  it  will  be  ob- 
served, curves  from  above  downward  and  outward,  so  that 
the  lower  extremity  sets  off  from  the  body  of  the  cannon  bone ; 
the  upper  heads,  where  it  unites  with  the  bones  of  the  knee 
and  hock,  slant  or  bevel  inward,  and  as  the  weight  of  the 
animal  is  thrown  upon  them,  the  upper  heads  are  forced  out- 
ward, while  the  lower  ones  are  thrown  inward.  By  this 
simple  arrangement  a  rocking  motion  of  these  bones  takes 
place,  so  that  at  the  centre  there  is  very  little  mobility,  and 
if  the  injury  is  above,  it  causes  lameness  in  consequence  of 
tension  ;  if  below,  from  pressure  ;  but,  if  it  is  in  the  centre,  it 
seldom  causes  lameness  at  all,  though  the  injury  is  greater. 

When  lameness  occurs,  the  union  of  the  bones  should  be 
hastened  by  increasing  the  inflammatory  action ;  this  is  best 
done  by  active  blistering,  which  soon  removes  the  lameness. 


CURB. 

This  is  a  swelling  on  the  back  part  of  the  hock  joint  below 
the  cap,  generally  arising  from  a  strain,  or  breaking  down  of 
the  hock.     Some  horses  naturally  have  what  are  called  curb- 


BLOOD   SPAVIN,    ETC.  305 

hock§,  though  they  are  not  always  attended  with  any  seriou3 
disadvantages.  There  is  a  predisposition  to  weakness,  which 
renders  them  suspicious. 

If  the  curb  arises  from  recent  injury,  a  little  blood  may  with 
advantage  be  taken  from  the  sephena  vein  running  up  the  inside 
of  the  thigh ;  cold  water  applications  should  be  kept  upon  the 
parts  ;  cloths  wet  with  tincture  of  arnica,  half  a  pint  to  a  gallon 
of  water,  are  very  useful ;  or,  the  following  ointment  will  be 
found  of  service :  dry  iodine,  one  drachm  ;  iodide  of  potassa, 
one  drachm ;  lard,  one  ounce  j  mix  well  together,  and  use  once 
a  day. 


STRING  HALT. 

This  disease  has  never  been  very  satisfactorily  accounted  for 
by  veterinary  authors.  It  consists  in  a  sudden,  spasmodic 
raising  of  the  hind  limbs,  though  it  is  said  to  have  occurred  in 
the  fore  legs.  The  author  has  found,  upon  an  examination  after 
death  of  the  hock-joint  of  several  animals  affected  with  this 
disease,  that  a  little  roughness  from  exostosis  existed  on  the 
OS  calciSf  or  bone  forming  the  cap  of  the  hock,  where  the 
perforans  tendon  plays  over ;  in  other  cases  the  tendon  has  been 
found  almost  entirely  surrounded  with  a  bony  case,  which  inter- 
fered very  materially  with  its  action.  He  is  inclined,  therefore, 
to  regard  these  as  the  general  causes  of  the  disease. 

No  treatment  as  yet  practised  has  proved  successful ;  though 
there  are  recorded  isolated  cases  of  spontaneous  cure. 


BLOOD  SPAVIN,  BOG  SPAVIN,  AND  THOROUGHPIN. 

These  constitute  one  disease,  occasioned  by  an  over  secretion 
of  joint  oil  in  the  hock  joint,  which  causes  a  distention  of  the 
20 


S06  TRACTUREa. 

capsular  ligament,  or  bursa,  presenting  soft  puffy  swellings  about 
the  joint.  Blood  and  bog  spavin  appear  on  the  front  and  inside 
of  the  joint;  while  thoroughpin  extends  through  from  one  side 
of  the  joint  to  the  other.  These  diseases  are  so  common  and 
so  well  marked  as  not  to  be  easily  mistaken.  The  causes  are 
violent  exercise,  throwing  the  animal  upon  his  haunches,  run- 
ning, jumping,  etc. 

As  it  seldom  causes  lameness,  treatment  is  rarely  needed ;  if 
requisite,  blistering,  bandaging  with  compresses,  and  rest  are 
the  most  successful. 


FRACTUBES. 

Experience  has  established  the  fallacy  of  destroying  every 
horse  that  meets  with  a  fractured  limb.  Fractures  may  occur 
in  any  bone  of  the  body,  and  yet  a  perfect  union  of  the  parts 
may  take  place,  provided  the  fracture  is  a  simple  one ;  com- 
pound fractures,  even,  are  occasionally  united. 

For  treatment,  the  animal  should  first  be  placed  in  the  most 
comfortable  position,  and  the  parts  adjusted  as  nearly  as  pos- 
sible, retaining  them  by  proper  bandages,  splints,  etc.  Should 
the  fracture  be  in  the  small  or  lower  part  of  the  leg,  sole  leather, 
softened  in  water  and  moulded  to  the  limb,  retaining  it  in  place 
by  bandages,  forms  a  very  good  splint. 

Fractures  of  the  skull  sometimes  require  the  operation  of 
trephining,  (explained  under  the  head  of  Surgical  Cases,)  in 
order  to  replace  the  parts  perfectly;  after  which  the  bowels 
should  be  opened,  and  the  animal  kept  on  moderate  diet. 

Fractures  of  the  pelvis,  or  haunch  bones,  will,  in  nine  cases 
out  of  ten,  become  united  by  proper  management,  no  matter 
how  bad  the  crushing,  and  the  animal  may  again  be  rendered 


DISEASES   OF    THE    HEART.  807 

serviceable.  The  author  never  hesitates  to  treat  fractures  of 
these  bones  in  horses  that  are  of  sufficient  vahie  to  warrant  it. 
Indeed,  union  of  the  parts  in  such  fractures  will  often  take 
place,  even  if  the  animal  be  turned  into  a  field  without  any 
treatment ;  though,  perhaps,  more  deformity  will  be  left  than 
if  proper  care  had  been  exercised.  The  horse,  if  active  and 
high-strung,  should  be  kept  upon  his  feet  by  tying  up  the  head 
short  for  several  days,  and  then  the  slings  may  be  placed  under 
him  ;  if  this  is  done  at  first,  the  animal  being  full  of  fire  throws 
himself  off  his  feet,  and  all  efforts  to  remedy  the  fracture  will 
prove  a  failure.  From  six  to  eight  weeks,  according  to  the 
age  of  the  animal,  are  necessary  to  complete  the  union  of  the 
parts. 

Some  practical  knowledge  is  requisite,  in  order  to  discrimi- 
nate cases'  of  fracture  of  the  limbs  that  are  likely  to  be  success- 
fully treated  ;  but  fractures  of  the  haunch  bones  rarely  fail  to 
unite,  with  proper  management.  The  animal  should  be  kept 
on  bran  mashes,  gruel,  and  green  food  during  the  treatment. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  HEART. 

Diseases  of  the  heart  are  less  understood  by  the  members  of 
the  veterinary  profession  generally  than  any  other  class  of  dis- 
eases (with,  perhaps,  one  or  two  exceptions,)  to  which  horses 
are  subject.  This  want  of  information  in  this  country,  is  attri- 
butable to  the  comparative  infancy  of  veterinary  science,  the 
obscurity  of  the  symptoms  by  which  these  diseases  are  charac- 
terized, the  consequent  confounding  of  them  with  other  diseases, 


308  PERICARDITIS. 

and  to  the  comparative  silence  of  veterinary  authors  upon  this 
important  subject. 

Diseases  of  the  heart  in  this  animal  are  not  suspected  by  the 
farrier,  (shoeing-smith)  or  horseman ;  yet  they  are  by  no  means 
of  unfrequent  occurrence.  During  the  session  of  the  Veterinary 
College  of  Philadelphia  for  1859-CO,  the  author  had  then  op- 
portunities of  presenting  to  the  class  well-marked  cases  of  disease 
of  this  organ,  as  also  one  very  interesting  case  of  rupture  of  the 
heart,  or  rather  of 'the  aorta,  or  great  artery  leading  from  the 
heart,  at  the  point  where  it  leaves  that  important  organ.  The 
latter  case  was  that  of  a  bay  mare  which  had  been  used  in  an 
oyster  cart;  she  ate  her  feed  at  night  as  usual,  in  apparent  good 
health;  and  was  found  dead  in  her  stall  the  next  morning. 


PERICARDITIS. 

This  disease,  as  its  name  implies,  is  an  inflammation  of  the 
pericardium,  the  bag  or  sac  which  surrounds  the  heart,  and 
known  to  butchers  as  the  heart-bag.  After  death  arising  from 
pleuritic  affections  effusions  are  quite  commonly  found  within 
this  sac,  which  are  attributed  to  the  sympathy  existing  between 
the  pericardium  and  the  pleura.  The  fluid  is  sometimes  of  a 
bright  yellow  color,  while  at  others  it  is  of  a  turbid  character 
v^'ith  considerable  lymph  floating  in  it,  which  collects  in  a  mass 
forming  a  thick  layer  upon  the  internal  surface  of  the  sac, 
causing  considerable  thickening  of  its  walls,  and  extending  over 
the  heart  in  like  manner  ;  adhesions  between  the  two  sometimes 
take  place.  Percival  mentions  an  instance  in  which  this  col- 
lection was  converted  into  a  substance  of  the  nature  of  gristle 
of  considerable  thickness.  This  disease  rarely  exists  alone,  but 
is  of  a  secondary  character. 


PERICARDITIS. 


309 


The  attendant  symptoms  are  palpitation  of  the  heart,  quick- 
ened respiration,  sometimes  accompanied  with  a  dry  cough, 
with  a  pulse  quick,  rising  to  sixty  or  seventy  a  minute,  full, 
hard,  and  strong.  "  Mr.  Pritchard,  Y.  S.,  Wolverton,"  says 
Mr.  Percival,  "  with  laudable  zeal  for  the  promotion  of  our  art, 
so  long  ago  as  the  year  1833,  furnished  the  veterinarian  with 
some  practical  communications  on  this  subject,  which  we  shall 
find  it  advantageous  to  revive  upon  the  present  occasion.  His 
observations  relate  particularly  to  the  type  termed  Hydrops 
Pericardii^  which  implies  the  stage  of  pericarditis  when  effu- 

^5^  - sion  is  likely,  or  has  taken  place, 

^~~^^  ^  _,_  and  the  membranous  sac  is  sup- 

~^~-  posed  to  contain  watery 
fluid,  and  probably 
lymph  as  well.  The 
symptoms  of  this  af- 
fection, apart  from 
pleurisy  and    pneu' 

THE  END  OF    PERICARDITIS.  mOH  1  a,     Mr.     Prlt- 

chard  informs  us,  are  well-marked.  They  are  palpitation  of 
the  heart,  the  carotid  arteries  (passing  up  the  neck)  beating 
forcibly  and  being  readily  recognized  in  applying  the  finger  to 
their  course  in  the  neck.  There  is  a  good  flow  of  blood  through 
the  jugulars ;  a  copious  return  of  blood  through  the  neck,  when 
the  state  of  the  pulse  is  considered  ;  the  surface  of  the  body 
and  the  extremities  are  warm  ;  and  these  latter  symptoms  con- 
tinue within  one  or  two  hours  of  the  horse's  death.  *  *  *  In 
addition  to  the  above  symptoms,  there  is  such  an  expression  of 
alarm  and  anxiety  in  the  countenance  of  the  animal  as  no  other 
malady  produces." 


310  ENDOCARDITIS. 

There  is  no  treatment  as  yet  known  by  which  this  disease  can 
be  reached. 


CAEDITIS. 

This  is  an  inflammation  of  the  muscular  structure  of  the  heart 
comparatively  rare,  or  at  least  supposed  to  be  so. 

In  this  affection  the  animal  will  be  found  lame,  generally  in 
the  off  fore-leg,  but  upon  examination  no  cause  will  be  found 
sufficient  to  account  for  it.  This  lameness  may  appear  and 
disappear  several  times  previous  to  the  attack's  manifesting 
itself  in  a  more  positive  form,  leaving  the  impression  that  the 
lameness  was  rheumatic.  We  next  find  the  animal  refusing  his 
feed ;  his  heart  palpitates  violently ;  he  occasionally  gasps,  and 
gnashes  his  teeth ;  pulse  full,  hard,  and  quick ;  there  is  a  wild 
expression  of  the  eyes  ;  respiration  quickened ;  mouth  hot  and 
dry ;  and  the  temperature  of  the  legs  varies  from  moderate  to 
cold. 

For  treatment  cold  water  should  be  frequently  given  ;  take 
one  drachm  of  white  hellebore,  and  divide  it  into  five  powders ; 
give  one  of  these  on  the  tongue  every  three  or  four  hours. 
Bleeding  has  been  recommended  ;  but  the  author  has  not  wit- 
nessed any  advantages  from  it,  and  therefore  would  on  no  ac- 
count advise  it. 


ENDOCARDITIS. 

This  disease,  called  also  palpitation  of  the  heart,  or,  more 
commonly,  thumps,  is  an  inflammation  of  the  lining  membrane 
of  the  heart,  and  is  generally  associated  with  pericarditis ;  the 
inflammation  readily  extending  itself  from  one  part  to  the  other 
in  consequence  of  their  proximity. 

The  symptoms  are  a  violent  palpitation  of  the  heart,  which 


OSTEO-SARCOMA.  811 

can  often  be  observed  at  the  distance  of  several  yards  from  the 
animal ;  pulse  full  and  hard,  but  not  quickened.  Although 
this  disease  is  regarded  as  incurable,  we  can  still  palliate  the 
symptoms  so  as  to  allow  of  the  animaPs  return  to  work  the 
next  day. 

For  treatment,  give  one  of  the  following  powders  every  three 
hours  ;  of  nitrate  of  potassa  one  ounce  ;  pulverized  digitalis  two 
drachms ;  mix,  and  divide  into  five  powders.  Subsequent  attacks 
may  be  warded  ofif  by  keeping  the  bowels  regular. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  HEAD. 


OSTEO-SARCOMA. 

This  disease,  called  commonly  Big  Head,  is  not  mentioned 
by  veterinary  authors  in  Europe,  and  so  far  as  the  author  can 
learn,  seems  to  be  peculiar  to  the  Western  and  Southern  States. 
It  appears,  from  the  rather  unsatisfactory  accounts  at  the 
author's  command,  to  originate  in  the  osseous,  or  bony,  struc- 
ture of  the  face.  The  bones  become  much  swollen,  and  are 
represented  as  presenting  a  soft,  spongy,  or  cellular  appearance, 
the  cells  being  filled  with  a  substance  like  jelly.  This  appear- 
ance, however,  does  not  correspond  externally  with  several 
specimens  in  the  author's  possession,  in  which  the  external  sur- 
face of  the  bones  appears  to  be  perfect,  but  very  thin,  and  very 
much  enlarged. 

The  symptoms  are  a  swelling  of  the  bones  of  the  face  from 
the  eye  to  the  nose ;  pufiy  swelling  about  the  limbs ;  stiffnesa 


812  INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BRAIN. 

about  the  joints;   pulse  slightly  accelerated,  and  soft;   coat 
rough  and  staring,  with  considerable  debility. 

The  treatment  usually  practised  has  been  to  make  an  incision 
through  the  skin  and  insert  a  small  quantity  of  arsenic  into  the 
wound ;  or  else  to  score  the  face  with  a  red-hot  iron  ;  which  latter 
mode  is  said  to  have  effected  a  perfect  cure  in  many  cases. 
Neither  of  these  operations,  however,  strikes  us  as  being  very  sci- 
entific. The  author's  friend,  G.  W.  Bowler,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
has  had  some  experience  in  the  treatment  of  this  disease,  and  has 
been  very  successful.  The  course  pursued  by  him  is  to  rub  the 
swollen  parts  well  once  a  day  with  the  following  ointment :  of 
mercurial  ointment  one  ounce,  and  of  iodine  ointment  two 
ounces  ;  mix  well  together  for  use.  Give  internally  at  the  same 
time  one  of  the  following  powders  night  and  morning :  calomel 
one  ounce ;  iodide  of  potassa  two  ounces ;  pulverized  gentian 
root  one  and  a  half  ounces ;  to  be  made  into  twenty  powders. 
The  animal  must  be  kept  in  a  dry,  well  ventilated  stable,  and 
the  body  kept  warm  so  long  as  this  medicine  is  given. 


ins^HjAMMation  of  the  beaiw. 

This  disease,  known  also  as  phrenitis,  or,  more  generally, 
mad  staggers,  arises  from  various  causes,  such  as  blows,  over- 
feeding and  little  exercise,  too  tight  a  collar,  etc.,  etc., 

A  heaviness  of  the  head  is  first  noticed ;  an  unwilling- 
ness to  move  about;  the  lining  membrane  of  the  eyelids  much 
reddened ;  appetite  indifferent  or  lost ;  a  peculiar  dullness  of 
the  eyes ;  and  finally,  delirium  or  madness.  The  animal  be- 
comes unmanageable  ;  beslavers  all  that  comes  within  his  reach, 
whether  man,  horse,  or  anything  else ;  and  plunges  violently 
about  the  stall,  or  wherever  he  may  chance  to  be. 


MEGRIMS.  3 1 3 

As  this  disease  is  occasioned  by  a  determination  of  blood  to 
the  head,  it  is  necessary  to  use  the  lancet ;  this  should  be  done 
freely,  and  that  too  before  the  delirious  stage  comes  on,  other- 
wise it  cannot  be  done  properly  or  beneficially.  Cloths  wet  in 
cold  water  should  be  applied  to  the  head ;  or,  what  is  better, 
bags  of  broken  ice.  Open  the  bowels  with  the  following,  made 
into  a  ball :  Barbadoes  aloes  one  ounce  ;  pulverized  ginger  one 
drachm  ;  pulverized  gentian  root  two  drachms ;  mix  with  mo- 
lasses sufficient  to  form  the  ball.  Give  also  injections  of  castile 
£oap  and  water.  Give  no  food  for  twenty-four  hours ;  but  small 
quantities  of  water  may  be  frequently  given.  After  the  recovery 
of  the  animal  he  should  be  fed  very  sparingly,  and  not  exposed 
to  the  hot  noonday  sun. 

If  the  occasion  of  the  attack  be  a  tight  collar,  the  remedy  is 
simple  and  easy ;  if  from  over-feeding,  the  quantity  of  food 
should  be  lessened ;  but  little  is  to  be  expected  by  way  of 
treatment. 


MEGRIMS. 

This  is  a  sudden  determination  of  blood  to  the  head,  generally 
attacking  horses  while  at  work,  or  in  harness  upon  the  road. 
Those  of  a  plethoric  character  are  most  subject  to  these  attacks. 

The  horse  suddenly  stops  in  the  road,  shakes  his  head,  and 
sometimes  goes  on  again ;  at  other  times  he  falls  in  a  state  of 
unconsciousness,  the  whole  system  appears  convulsed,  with  the 
eyes  wild  in  appearance  and  constantly  rolling. 

Bleeding  upon  the  appearance  of  the  first  symptoms  gives 
almost  immediate  relief;  after  which  the  bowels  must  be  opened, 
for  which  purpose  give  one  and  a  half  pints  of  linseed  oil,  or 
the  aloes  ball  will  answer  ;  bran  mashes  should  be  given  for  a 


314  EPILEPSY. 

few  days.  These  attacks  may  be  prevented  in  the  case  of  horses 
subject  to  them  by  moderate  feeding  and  driving,  and  in  warm 
weather  by  keeping  the  forehead  shaded  by  a  canvas  or  cloth 
hood  elevated  on  a  wire  framework  about  two  inches  from  the 
forehead  so  as  to  protect  the  brain,  and  admit  a  free  passage  of 
air  between  the  two.  The  author  believes  that  he  was  the  first 
to  introduce  this  hood,  which  can  be  attached  to  the  bridle,  and 
made  as  ornamental  as  may  be  desired.  The  use  of  hoods  of 
this  kind  in  very  hot  weather  would  prevent  the  frequent  falling 
of  horses  in  our  streets  from  over-heating ;  as  the  heat  of  tho 
sun  principally  affects  the  brain  in  all  these  cases. 


l.jssr/« 


VEETIGO. 

This  disease  generally  arises  from  water  in  the  cranial  ease, 
causing  pressure  upon  the  brain.  The  animal  is  generally 
attacked  in  harness,  as  in  the  preceding  disease  ;  this  arises  from 
the  fact  that  the  exercise  causes  the  vessels  of  the  brain  to  be- 
come more  active,  fuller,  and  more  distended  with  blood,  and 
consequently  there  is  greater  pressure  upon  this  sensitive  organ. 

The  symptoms  are  similar  to  those  of  megrims,  with,  perhaps, 
the  addition  of  rearing,  dropping  suddenly  as  though  struck 
with  death,  and  rising  in  a  few  moments  as  if  nothing  had  hap- 
pened, etc. 

The  treatment  mainly  consists  in  keeping  the  bowels  in  good 
order  j  working  moderately ;  giving  no  corn,  and  but  little  hay. 


EPILEPSY. 

This  disease  takes  its  name  from  the  suddenness  of  its  attack. 
The  animal  is  apparently  in  a  perfect  state  of  health,  when  sud- 
denly he  falls  to  the  ground,  generally  (as  in  the  two  preceding^ 


STOMACH   STAGGERS.  315 

cases),  while  in  harness,  without  any  manifest  cause.  He  re- 
maius  in  this  condition  for  a  short  time,  and  then  appears  as 
well  as  ever ;  although  occasionally  a  considerable  degree  of 
stupor  is  manifested  for  some  time  after. 

It  may  be  occasioned  by  blows,  wounds,  and  other  injuries 
about  the  head ;  water  in  the  brain  ;  tumors  ;  violent  derange- 
ment of  the  nervous  system ;  worms ;  constipation  of  the  bowels ; 
plethora,  etc. 

The  same  course  of  treatment  should  be  pursued  as  in  vertigo ; 
these  diseases  in  their  symptoms,  causes,  etc.,  being  so  intimately 
connected  as  scarcely  to  be  distinguishable  from  each  other. 


STOMACH  STAGGERS. 

This  disease  arises  principally  from  over-feeding.  The  animal 
appears  dull  and  sleepy,  with  a  disposition  to  pitch  forward ; 
stands  with  his  head  resting  against  a  wall,  manger,  or  the  like, 
or,  if  at  pasture,  against  a  tree  ;  if  he  is  led  out  of  the  stable,  this 
will  be  observed  as  an  involuntary  action,  in  consequence  of 
which  the  head  is  often  much  cut  and  bruised  by  coming  in 
contact  with  hard  or  rough  substances ;  there  is  constipation 
of  the  bowels  ;  pulse  scarcely  changed  from  the  usual  standard ; 
as  the  attack  is  severe,  the  breathing  becomes  more  and  more 
labored. 

Blaine  regards  these  symptoms  as  the  first  stage  of  mad  stag- 
gers ;  but  this  the  author  deems  a  mistake,  as  animals  that  die 
from  this  disease,  having  presented  the  above  symptoms,  scarcely 
have  any  very  marked  change  in  the  cerebral  region,  or  the 
brain. 

From  the  mode  of  treatment  recommended  by  European 
authors  of  high  repute,  the  author  infers  that  the  attacks  are 


316 


STOMACH   STAGGERS. 


less  severe  in  this  country  than  in  Europe,  or  else  that  the 
severe  treatment  there  practised  is  more  injurious  than  the 
disease  itself.     The  whole  cause  of  the  disease  being  apparently 

in  the  distended  condition  of 
the  stomach  from  the  presence 
of  undigested  food,  all  food 
should  be  removed  from  the 
manger,  and  none  given  for 
forty-eight  hours.  Give  in- 
ternally the  following  ball : 
Barbadoes  aloes  one  ounce; 
pulverized  ginger  two 
drachms ;  croton  oil  six  drops ; 
mix  with  molasses,  and  give 
in  the  usual  manner.  Injec- 
tions of  soap  and  water  should 
be  given,  until  the  bowels  are  opened ;  or,  what  is  far  preferable 
when  convenient,  tobacco-smoke  injections.  Two  drachms  of 
the  extract  of  belladonna  dissolved  in  a  pail  of  water,  given  to 
drink  once  a  day  for  a  week,  will  prove  beneficial.  Bleeding 
in  these  cases  is,  as  a  general  rule,  unnecessary  and  uncalled 
for.  Food  should  now  be  given  very  sparingly ;  and  no  corn 
should  be  given  at  any  time  to  the  animal  after  such  an  attack, 
in  consequence  of  its  tendency  to  heat  the  blood,  and  produce 
a  plethoric  condition  of  the  system. 


HATINa  SCENE. 


AMAUROSIS.  311 


DISEASES  OF  THE  EYE. 


AMAUROSIS. 

In  this  disease,  called  also  Gutta  Serena,  or,  more  generally, 
Glass  Eye,  we  find  the  eyes  bright  and  clear,  with  a  peculiar 
glassy  appearance  about  them  not  observed  in  an  eye  where 
vision  is  perfect ;  although  no  alteration  in  the  structure  of  the 
eye  has  taken  place,  yet  the  horse  is  partially  or  totally  blind. 
A  mere  examination  of  such  eyes  would  not  enable  us  to  pro- 
nounce upon  the  blindness  of  the  animal ;  but  if  he  be  taken 
from  a  dark  stable  to  a  strong  light,  it  will  readily  be  detected, 
as  the  light  causes  no  change  to  take  place  in  the  pupil. 

This  disease  is  regarded  as  paralysis  of  the  optic  nerve ;  in 
some  cases  yielding  readily  to  medical  treatment,  and  in  others 
proving  incurable.  Horses  are  often  sold  with  this  disease 
upon  them  as  perfectly  sound,  and  the  first  intimation  which 
the  purchaser  receives  of  his  horse's  being  blind  is  his  running 
against  a  wall-fence,  post,  or  any  thing  that  may  chance  to  be 
in  his  way.  It  sometimes  makes  its  appearance  very  suddenly; 
occasionally  it  exists  in  a  temporary  form  as  a  sympathetic 
affection,  as  in  apoplexy;  it  also  at  times  occurs  during  the 
period  of  gestation,  etc. 

Constitutional  treatment  only  is  likely  to  succeed  in  these  cases. 
A  physic  ball  should  be  given  to  open  the  bowels,  composed  of 
Barbadoes  aloes  six  drachms  ;  pulverized  ginger  one  drachm  ; 
pulverized  gentian  root  two  drachms  ;  mix  with  molasses.  After 
the  ball  has  operated  (which  should  be  in  twenty-four  hours,  if 
the  aloes  are  good),  give  morning  and  evening  half  a  drachm 


31 S  MEMBRANA   NICTITANS. 

of  nux  vomica  mixed  in  the  feed.  The  author  has  never  wit- 
nessed any  beneficial  results  from  bleeding,  although  it  is  re- 
commended by  some  writers. 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  MEMBEANA  NICTITANS. 

This  affection  is  commonly  called  the  haw,  or  hooks.  The 
membrane  affected  is  somewhat  triangular  in  form,  concave  on 
the  inner  side,  and  convex  externally.  It  is  mainly  composed 
of  cartilage,  or  gristle,  and  is  situated  between  the  eye  ball  and 
the  side  of  the  orbit,  at  the  inner  corner  of  the  eye.  In  a  per- 
fectly healthy  condition  but  a  very  small  portion  of  this  mem- 
brane is  visible ;  but  when  in  a  state  of  inflammation  it  bulges 
out  very  considerably.  A  portion  of  the  membrane  covering 
it  becoming,  as  it  were,  folded  upon  itself  presents  a  hook- 
like appearance,  which  has  been  regarded  by  farriers  as  a 
foreign  substance,  to  which  the  name  of  "hooks"  has  been 
given,  and  its  removal  with  the  knife  recommended  by  them. 
It  so  happens,  however,  that  this  membrane  is  placed  in  the 
eye,  or  attached  thereto,  to  serve  a  useful  purpose :  that  of 
cleansing  the  eye  from  dirt,  or  any  foreign  substance  that  may 
chance  to  get  into  it,  which  is  accomplished  by  throwing  it 
over  the  ball  of  the  eye,  and  removing  any  obstruction.  In- 
jury must  result  from  cutting  away  any  portion  of  this  mem- 
brane, as  its  function  is  in  part  destroyed  ;  since  the  animal 
can  no  longer  throw  it  over  the  ball  of  the  eye  with  the  same 
facility  as  before  the  operation  was  performed.  In  point  of 
fact,  wherever  the  hooks,  as  they  are  called,  are  cut  out,  it  will 
be  observed  that  whenever  any  foreign  substance  gets  into  the 
eye,  the  animal  makes  a  spasmodic  effort  to  throw  this  mem- 


SIMPLE  OPHTHALMIA.  319 

brane  over  the  eyeball,  often  failing  to  accomplish  it;  and 
thus  the  eye  is  rendered  more  liable  to  injury  ever  after. 

Whenever  this  membrane  becomes  tumefied,  instead  of  cut- 
ting it  out,  open  the  bowels,  and  apply  cold  water  to  the  eye 
several  times  a  day.  If  much  inflammation  exists,  bleed  from 
the  small  vein  just  below  the  eye,  the  course  of  which  vein  in 
all  thin-skinned  animals  is  quite  distinctly  marked. 


SIMPLE    OPHTHALMIA. 

This  disease  arises  sometimes  from  a  blow  inflicted  by  a  pas- 
sionate groom,  or  from  some  other  external  injury,  or  from  a 
foreign  body  entering  the  eye,  causing  such  an  irritation  in 
that  delicate  organ  as  sometimes  to  terminate  in  blindness. 

The  symptoms  are  considerable  swelling  and  inflammation 
of  the  eye  lids,  their  under  surfaces  being  very  much  reddened, 
and  the  vessels  highly  injected  with  blood;  there  is  also  a 
cloudy  appearance  over  the  cornea,  or  transparent  part  of 
the  eye. 

For  treatment,  if  the  animal  is  in  a  plethoric  condition,  take 
six  or  eight  quarts  of  blood  from  the  jugular  vein,  regulating 
the  quantity  by  the  action  on  the  pulse  ;  otherwise  general 
bleeding  should  not  be  undertaken.  The  bowels  should  be 
freely  opened  with  Barbadoes  aloes,  six  drachms ;  pulverized 
ginger  root,  one  drachm  ;  and  pulverized  gentian  root,  one 
drachm,  made  into  a  ball.  Bathe  the  eye  freely  with  cold 
water;  after  which  apply  with  a  syringe  either  of  the  following 
washes  :  laudanum,  six  drachms ;  rain,  or  distilled  water,  one 
pint;  mix  the  two,  and  shake  well  before  using: — or,  take 
half  an  ounce  of  the  extract  of  belladonna  dissolved  in  one 


320  SPECIFIC  OPHTHALMIA. 

pint  of  rain  water.  Give  internally  one  draclim  of  powdered 
colchicum  morning  and  evening,  in  a  bran  masli ;  no  graia 
should  be  given  during  the  treatment ;  corn  should  be  especially 
avoided. 


SPECIFIC    OPHTHALMIA. 

Inflammation  of  the  eye,  or  specific  ophthalmia,  is  known  to 
horsemen  as  moon-blindness,  from  the  influence  which  the 
moon  is  supposed  to  exert  upon  it.  This,  however,  is  one  of 
the  many  popular  delusions  which  fill  the  pages  of  many  use- 
less works  on  farriery.  When  a  horse  is  once  attacked  with 
this  disease,  he  is  ever  after  liable  to  subsequent  attacks,  at 
intervals  varying  from  one  to  six  months,  and  generally  ter- 
minating in  blindness.  This  termination  may,  however,  be 
warded  off  for  a  long  time  by  proper  management ;  each  sub- 
sequent attack  rendering  such  a  termination  more  and  more 
certain,  from  the  increased  alteration  in  the  structures  of 
the  eye. 

The  horse  may  appear  perfectly  well,  and  the  eyes  clear  and 
bright  one  day,  and  the  next  morning  usually  one  eye  will  be 
found  closed,  more  particularly  if  it  is  exposed  to  a  strong 
light ;  little  or  no  swelling  will  be  observed ;  the  lining  mem- 
brane of  the  eye  lid  is  quite  red,  and  the  eye  exceedingly 
watery  and  tender. 

The  causes  of  this  disease  are  mainly  attributable  to  heredi- 
tary predisposition,  or  to  confinement  in  dark  stables,  and 
sudden  exposure  to  strong  light.  Badly  ventilated  stables,  in 
consequence  of  which  the  eyes  are  continually  exposed  to  the 
strong  fumes  of  ammonia  arising  from  the  urine,  as  also  hard 
work  in  a  small  collar^  are  supposed  to  be  exciting  causes. 


CATARACT.  821 

Those  cases  require  prompt  attention,  in  order  to  ward  oflf 
the  serious  consequences  which  otherwise  are  in  store  for  the  un- 
fortunate animal.  The  bowels  should  first  be  opened  with  the 
purging  ball  recommended  in  simple  ophthalmia.  Give  bran 
mashes  only,  and  when  the  bowels  are  opened,  give  one  of 
the  following  powders  night  and  morning  on  the  tongue : — 
pulverized  colchicum,  one  and  a  half  ounces ;  saltpetre,  two 
ounces ;  divide  into  twelve  powders.  These  will  last  one 
week,  and  by  that  time  the  eye  will  usually  become  clear  and 
bright.  Use  as  an  injection  for  the  eye,  tincture  of  opium, 
one  ounce  ;  rain,  or  distilled  water,  one  pint : — or,  if  more  con- 
venient, mix  half  an  ounce  of  the  extract  of  belladonna  in 
one  pint  of  water,  and  use  in  the  same  manner.  If  the  animal 
is  in  a  plethoric  condition,  bleeding  will  be  found  advan- 
tageous ;  the  quantity  to  be  regulated  by  the  condition  of  the 
pulse.  Place  the  animal  in  a  cool,  well-ventilated  location, 
free  from  any  ammoniacal  gases. 


CATARACT. 

This  disease,  which  is  one  of  the  terminations  of  specific 
ophthalmia,  is  an  opacity  of  the  crystalline  lens,  situated 
directly  behind  the  pupil,  through  which  it  is  visible.  The 
first  indications  of  cataract  noticed  are  one  or  more  white 
Bpots  making  their  appearance  within  the  eye,  gradually  en- 
larging, and  at  last  blending  with  each  other  until  the  animal 
becomes  totally  blind.  Not  much  can  be  done  in  such  cases 
by  way  of  treatment.  Its  removal  by  the  operation  practised 
upon  the  human  eye,  and  known  as  "couching,"  is  hardly  ad- 
visable, as  the  horse  is  forever  after  unsafe,  being  very  apt  to 
21 


322  TOLL   EVIL. 

shy  at  almost  every  object  which  he  encounters,  in  consequence 
of  his  sight  being  but  partially  restored  by  the  operation. 


-WALL    EYE. 

This  peculiar  appearance  of  the  iris  in  some  horses  is  not  the 
result  of  disease,  but  is  occasioned  by  the  absence  of  what  is 
called  the  pigment,  which  gives  color  to  the  eye.  This  pigment 
is  secreted  upon  the  inside  of  the  iris,  and  where  it  does  not 
exist,  the  iris,  or  that  part  of  the  eye  which  surrounds  the 
pupil  (so  called  from  its  brilliancy)  remains  white.  Percival 
says  :  "  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  this  variety  of  hue  in  the 
iris  corresponds  with  the  color  of  the  hair ;  bay  and  chestnut 
horses  have  hazel  eyes ;  brown  horses  have  brownish  eyes ;  and 
very  dark  brown  or  black  horses,  eyes  of  a  still  darker,  dusky 
brown  shade.  This  curious  relation  is  still  more  observable 
in  human  beings;  the  diversity  of  colors  and  hues  in  their 
irides  being  infinitely  greater  than  any  thing  we  behold  among 
any  one  species  of  animals.  Cream-colored  and  milk-white 
horses  have  wall  eyes,  and  albinos  have  red  eyes  ;  in  both  which 
instances  the  iris  is  said  to  be  destitute  of  any  coloring  matter 
whatever." 


MISCELLANEOUS    DISEASES. 


POLL    EVIL. 

This  disease  arises  from  blows  inflicted  upon  the  poll,  or 
back  part  of  the  head,  of  animals  whose  blood  is  impure,  or  in 
a  morbid  condition.     Horses  going  in  or  out  of  stables  with 


vouj  evil. 


S25 


low  doorways  frequently  strike  their  polls;  pulling  back  upon 
the  halter,  and  blows  inflicted  by  passionate  grooms,  are 
among  the  exciting  causes  of  this  much  dreaded  complaint. 
The  same  injuries  inflicted  upon  an  animal  in  perfect  health 
seldom  cause  any  essential  trouble ;  but  when  the  blood  is  in 
a  morbid  condition,  fistulous  abscesses  are  formed,  which  are 
seldom  curable  by  merely  local  treatment,  even  when  the  dis- 
ease is  treated  in  its  earliest  stages. 

The  author  has  no  faith  ia  the  seton,  so  highly  recommended 
in  such  cases,  but  depends  principally  upon  constitutional 
treatment,  which  consists  in  first  changing  the  condition  of  the 
blood  from  an  unhealthy  standard  to  a  healthy  one.  This  may 
be  done  by  the  proper  use  of  alterative  medicines,  given  in 
either  of  the  following  forms  :  Socotrine  aloes  pulverized,  four 
ounces ;  soft  soap,  four  ounces  ;  linseed  meal,  one  and  a  half 
pounds ;  mix  with  molasses  so  as  to  form  a  mass ;  dose,  one 
ounce  twice  a  day : — or,  Socotrine  aloes,  eight  ounces ;  soft 
soap,  eight  ounces  ;  linseed  meal,  one  and  a  half  pounds  ;  mix 
and  dose  as  before  : — or,  the  following  powder  may  be  used ; 
sublimed  sulphur,  two  I^^HI^^^^^^mlB 
pounds ;  sesqui-sulphuret 
of  antimony  in  powder,', 
one  pound  :  dose,  a  table- 
spoonful  twice  a  day  in 
the  feed.  The  sesqui- 
sulphuret  of  antimony 
should  never  be  pur- 
chased  in  a  powdered 
form,  as  it  is  often  adulterated  with  lead,  arsenic,  magnesia, 
or  iron ;  but  should  always  be  procured  in  conical  masses. 


THE    K0NNIKG  STALLION  AMERICAN  ECLIPSE. 


324  MELANOTIC  TUMORS. 

If  the  abscess  is  soft  and  pointing,  it  should  be  opened,  and  a 
solution  of  zinc,  two  drachms  to  a  quart  of  water,  injected 
into  the  opening  once  or  twice  a  day.  A  saturated  solution 
of  corrosive  sublimate  is  sometimes  used  advantageously; 
though  the  zinc  is  much  safer  in  the  hands  of  inexperienced 
persons.  The  nux  vomica,  in  half-drachm  doses,  is  also  used 
as  an  internal  remedy  with  good  effect. 


FISTULA    OF    THE    WITHEBS. 

This  is  precisely  the  same  as  poll  evil,  its  location  alone 
giving  it  a  different  name,  and  requires  the  same  course  of 
treatment.  Its  location  is  upon  the  raised  part  along  the 
back,  and  over  the  shoulders,  known  as  the  withers,  and  it  is 
caused  by  bruises  from  the  forepart  of  the  saddle,  and  other 
causes. 


MELAITOTIO    TUMORS. 

Swellings  are  generally  termed  tumors ;  but  tumors  proper 
are  swellings  in  any  part  of  the  animal  not  attended  by  in- 
flammation, comprehending  bony,  fatty,  fibrous,  melanotic, 
etc.  For  their  removal  an  operation  is  generally  requisite, 
which  should  be  left  to  the  veterinary  surgeon.  Melanotic, 
or  black  tumors  are,  however,  peculiar  to  gray  horses,  and 
operations  upon  this  class  would  be  of  little  use,  as  the  entire 
system  is  usually  filled  with  them ;  where  one  is  seen,  many 
more  may  be  suspected.  The  author  presented  to  the  Bostoq 
Yeterinary  Institute,  some  years  ago,  a  large  cluster,  fifty  op 
sixty  in  number,  taken  from  the  abdominal  cavity  of  a  gray 
liorse,  all  united  together  by  membranous   attachments;    and 


GLANDERS.  325 

there  could  not  have  been  less  than  ten  thousand  of  these 
tumors  in  the  animal  from  which  this  specimen  was  taken. 
They  will  frequently  be  found  about  the  tail  of  gray  hurses, 
not  being  found  in  horses  of  any  other  color. 


GLANDERS. 

This  fatal  and  much  dreaded  disease  has  baffled  the  efforts 
of  veterinary  surgeons  in  all  ages  of  the  world,  ami  si  ill 
continues  so  to  do.  It  is  decidedly  contagious ;  yet  as  dif- 
ferent diseases  are  often  confounded  with  it,  which  may  be 
detected  by  the  competent  practitioner,  no  animal  should  be 
condemned  until  the  symptoms  peculiar  to  glanders,  which 
cannot  well  be  mistaken  if  the  disease  is  fully  developed,  have 
manifested  themselves.  The  suspected  animal  should  be  re- 
moved and  kept  from  all  possible  contact  with  any  others. 
The  author  has  deposited  in  the  museum  of  the  Yeteriuary 
College  of  Philadelphia  the  heads  of  a  number  of  horses  that 
were  killed  as  glandered  animals,  and  yet  not  one  of  them 
was  so  ;  the  suspicious  symptoms  in  each  case  arising  from 
carious  teeth.  Animals  afflicted  with  ozena  have  also  fre- 
quently been  killed  as  glandered ;  and  in  one  case  which  re- 
cently came  under  the  author's  notice,  where  the  animal  was 
killed  as  glandered,  the  cause  of  all  the  difficulty  was  the 
filling  up  of  the  frontal  sinuses  by  bony  deposits. 

It  is  necessary  for  the  attendant  to  use  the  utmost  caution 
when  about  a  glandered  horse,  as  the  disease  is  freely  com- 
municated from  the  animal  to  man  by  inoculation.  Of  some 
sixty-seven  cases  reported  in  the  Veterinarian  of  London  as 
occurriDg  in  man,  but  three  recovered,   notwithstanding  the 


326  /  v^:  GLANDERS. 

utmost  exertions  of  the  ablest  physicians  that  could  be  pro 
cured. 

The  most  common  cause  of  this  disease  is  the  impure  air  of 
close,  ill-ventilated,  and  filthy  stables,  which  acts  injuriously 
upon  the  organs  of  respiration,  destroys  the  constitution,  de- 
bilitates the  system,  and  renders  it  susceptible  to  the  attacks 
of  disease.  Neglected  catarrh,  also,  sometimes  terminates  in 
glanders ;  hard  work  and  bad  provender,  together  with  sudden 
changes  from  exposure  to  cold  and  wet  weather  to  hot  stables, 
are  likewise  reckoned  among  the  causes. 

The  symptoms  are,  discharges  from  one  or  both  nostrils,  of 
.  a  glossy,  thick,  gluey  nature,  frequently  sticking  about  the 
nostrils  in  considerable  masses.  This  is  a  pecnliarity  which 
other  discharges  do  not  possess.  This  discharge  is  not  always 
copious,  as  is  generally  supposed.  The  Schneiderian  membrane 
of  the  nose  changes  to  a  dusky,  or  dirty  yellow,  or  leaden 
hue ;  ulcers  appear  upon  the  membrane  ;  a  peculiar  raising 
of  the  nasal  bones  will  be  observed,  which  the  author  has 
never  noticed  in  any  other  disease ;  the  discharge  is  sometimes 
mixed  with  blood,  and  is  often  fetid  ;  and  one  or  both  of  the 
submaxillary  glands  are  swollen  and  adhere  to  the  jaw  bone. 
Too  much  reliance,  however,  should  not  be  placed  upon  thig 
swelling,  as  it  frequently  accompanies  other  diseases ;  but  the 
character  of  the  discharge,  and  the  raising  of  the  nasal  bones 
are  peculiarities  not  easily  mistaken  when  the  disease  is  de- 
veloped. As  all  the  other  symptoms  will  be  found  accom- 
panying other  diseases,  too  much  care  cannot  be  exercised  in 
deciding  upon  a  case  of  this  disease  previous  to  a  full  develop- 
ment of  the  symptoms. 

All  treatment  thus  far  has  proven  a  failure. 


TAKCY.  327 

FARCY. 

This  is  regarded  by  the  author  as  an  incipient  stage  of 
glanders,  or  as  a  type  of  the  same  disease,  and  with  proper 
management  is  curable.  Experiments  prove  that  the  virus 
from  a  farcied  horse  will  produce  glanders  by  inoculation  in  a 
sound  one,  and  that  the  glandered  matter  will  in  lii^'e  manner 
produce  farcy.  There  are  two  distinct  varieties  or  stages  of 
farcy  :  one,  which  is  called  buti,on  farcy,  is  altogether  super- 
ficial, being  confined  to  the  lymphatic  vessels  of  the  skin,  and 
readily  yields  to  medical  treatment ;  the  other  variety  makes 
its  appearance  in  the  extremities,  generally  upon  the  inside 
of  the  hind  legs,  which  become  completely  engorged ;  but  the 
swelling  is  very  different  from  the  ligaraentary  thickening,  or 
from  cedcma,  being  very  uneven  or  lumpy,  excessively  tender, 
and  painful  to  the  touch.  Small  abscesses  are  formed,  which  at 
first  discharge  a  healthy  pus,  but  soon  ulcerate,  and  discharge 
a  thin,  sanious  matter.  These  abscesses,  or  tumors,  first  make 
their  appearance  on  the  inside  of  the  hind  legs,  and  then  on 
the  fore  ones  in  like  manner;  the  neck  and  lips  come  next  in 
turn,  and  they  may  afterward  appear  in  all  parts  of  the  body, 
when  glanders  will  begin  to  manifest  itself. 

By  way  of  treatment,  good  wholesome  food  is  all  important. 
Sulphate  of  copper  in  two-drachm  doses,  combined  with  one 
or  two  drachms  of  pulverized  gentian  root,  will  often  prove 
successful ;  corrosive  sublimate,  also,  in  ten  or  fifteen  grain 
doses,  night  and  morning,  has  often  been  advantageously 
used ;  the  doses  may  be  increased  to  a  scruple,  or  even  half  a 
drachm,  if  the  animal  bears  the  medicine  well.  If  the  animal 
is  much  debilitated,  give  calomel  in  half-drachm  doses  instead 


328  SCARLET  FEVER. 

of  the  sublimate,  or  the  sulphuret  of  mercury  may  be  sub- 
stituted. The  use  of  arsenic  has  also  been  attended  with  good 
success,  but  the  author  has  been  more  fortunate  with  the 
muriate  of  baryta  in  half-drachm  doses,  than  with  any  other 
preparation  in  use.  All  the  tumors  should  be  opened,  and 
caustic  carefully  applied  to  each ;  sulphate  of  copper,  nitrate 
of  silver,  the  per-manganate  of  potash,  or  the  red-hot  iron,  are 
the  best  applications.  The  following  ointment  should  be 
rubbed  along  the  corded  vessels  once  a  day ;  blue  ointment, 
two  ounces;  hydriodate  of  potash,  two  drachms;  lard,  two 
ounces  ;  mix  well.  Or,  the  red  oxide  of  mercury,  two  drachms 
to  the  ounce  of  lard  is  very  good. 


SCARLET    FEVER. 

This  disease,  otherwise  called  scarlatina,  has  too  frequently 
been  confounded  with  farcy,  notwithstanding  the  two  diseases 
present  very  different  symptoms.  It  is  easily  managed,  yield- 
ing readily  to  medical  treatment. 

For  several  days  previous  to  any  very  noticeable  symptoms 
being  manifest,  the  animal  is  off  his  feed,  dull  and  mopy,  with 
mouth  hot  and  dry ;  slight  or  copious  discharges  from  the 
nose,  mixed  with  blood ;  the  Schneiderian  membrane  highly 
colored,  and  presenting  numerous  scarlet  blotches,  irregular 
in  form,  and  containing  a  thin,  reddish  fluid ;  these  blotches 
sometimes  present  a  pustular  appearance,  but  upon  passing 
the  finger  over  them,  nothing  of  that  character  can  be  dis- 
covered ;  the  whole  body  is  covered  with  similar  spots,  which 
sometimes  require  close  examination  to  discover  them  ;  in 
other  cases,  little  pustules  are  formed,  which  break,  and  dis- 


MANGE.  829 

charge  a  thin  sanious  fluid  of  a  reddish  color  and  gluey 
nature ;  swellings  of  the  legs,  sheath,  and  belly,  are  usually 
attending  symptoms ;  the  respiration  is  quick ;  the  pulse  is 
full  and  accelerated,  and  there  is  a  disinclination  to  move. 

For  treatment,  the  extract  of  belladonna  alone  appears  to 
be  a  specific  in  this  disease.  It  should  be  given  in  doses  of 
from  one  half  to  two  di;achms,  dissolved  in  a  pail  of  water,  and 
given  to  the  animal  to  drink.  No  hay  should  be  placed  be- 
fore him ;  soft  mashes  only  should  be  allowed,  until  he  is 
convalescent.  This  treatment,  so  simple  yet  so  effective,  has 
been  pursued  by  the  author's  friend,  Dr.  Bowler,  of  Cincinnati, 
and  himself,  for  the  last  ten  years,  with  uniform  success,  not  a 
single  case  having  been  lost.  It  is  true  that  the  disease  is  not 
of  very  common  occurrence  ;  yet  during  that  period  the  author 
has  had  over  thirty  cases. 


MANGE. 

Diseases  of  the  skin  are  less  numerous  in  the  horse  than 
perhaps,  most  other  animals  ;  a  circumstance  doubtless  arising 
from  the  great  care  taken  of  our  better  class  of  horses  to  keep 
the  skin  clean,  thereby  promoting  its  healthy  action.  Mange 
is  identical  with  the  itch  in  the  human  body,  and  is  an  infec- 
tious disease,  the  intolerable  itching  being  caused  by  minute 
insects,  called  acari.  They  are  first  observed  with  the  aid  of 
a  powerful  microscope  along  the  mane  and  the  root  of  the  tail, 
causing  a  scurfy  appearance  of  the  skin.  This  appearance 
rapidly  extends  to  the  neck  and  body ;  spots  denuded  of  hair 
will  appear,  which  gradually  run  into  continuous  scabby 
patches.     As  the  disease  advances,  it  thickens  and  puckers 


830 


MANGE. 


the  skin,  particularly  of  the  neck,  withers  and  loins.     This  dis- 
ease is  easily  cured  if  properly  managed. 

The  natural  history  of  these  insects  is  not  well  known. 
They  live  only  upon,  or  beneath,  the  skin  of  animals.  There 
appears  to  be  a  distinct  variety,  peculiar  to  each  species  of 
animals.  They  live  for  a  considerable  time  after  being  re- 
moved from  the  skin,  but  for  how  long  a  period  is  not  pre- 
cisely known.  According 
to  experiments  made  it 
appears  that  they  can  live 
in  pure  water  for  three 
i  hours ;  in  strong  vinegar, 
alcohol,  and  in  a  solution 
of  kali  carbonicum,  twenty 
minutes  ;  in  a  solution  of 
sulphuric  acid,  twelve 
minutes;  in  turpentine, 
nine  minutes  ;  and  in  a  so- 
lution of  arsenic,  four  min- 
utes. When  they  are  not  exposed  to  such  violent  and  de- 
structive immersions,  it  has  been  said  that  they  will  retain  life 
for  six  or  eight  days.  From  a  comparison  of  the  acari  of 
mangy  animals,  it  is  supposed  that  the  variety  peculiar  to 
the  horse  can  live  for  a  much  longer  period.  Mangy  horses 
have  been  removed  from  their  stalls,  washed  with  various  pre- 
parations, put  into  another  stable,  and  completely  freed  from  the 
effects  of  the  disease  ;  but  upon  returning  to  their  former  stalls, 
or  using  unwashed  their  accustomed  harness,  the  disease  soon 
showed  symptoms  of  its  return.  This  fact  accounts  for  the 
trouble   experienced   in   curing  this   disease.     The   insect   is 


THREE   FRIENDS. 


SURFEIT.  331 

Tubbed  off  upon  the  sides  of  the  stall,  or  clings  to  the  harness, 
again  to  come  in  contact  with  the  animal. 

For  treatment,  the  animal  should  be  stripped  of  all  harness, 
well  washed  with  acetic  acid,  and  turned  into  a  loose  box 
stall  away  from  that  in  which  he  has  been  standing.  If  this 
course  is  adopted,  one  or  two  washings  will  generally  suffice. 
The  harness  also  should  be  well  washed,  and  not  used  for  two 
or  three  months ;  nor  should  the  horse  be  replaced  in  his 
former  stall  for  a  less  period,  and  not  even  then  until  it  has 
been  thoroughly  cleaned  and  white  washed.  A  wash  of  white 
hellebore  and  water  has  been  much  and  beneficially  used  for 
this  disease ;  and  in  inveterate  cases  corrosive  sublimate  in 
solution  is  recommended,  though  there  is  some  danger  of  its 
absorption ;  if  this  should  occur,  the  animal  would  quite  likely 
be  destroyed.  A  mixture  of  sulphur,  oil,  and  turpentine  is 
highly  recommended ;  but  the  author  has  never  witnessed 
the  superior  qualities  of  any  of  these  preparations  over  the 
acetic  acid. 


SUKFEIT. 

This  disease  appears  all  over  the  body  in  the  form  of  pus- 
tules, which  seem  scaly,  and  then  appear  to  get  entirely  well, 
while  fresh  ones  make  their  appearance,  and  follow  in  the 
same  course.  The  hair  is  rough,  staring,  and  unhealthy  in 
appearance ;  the  legs  sometimes  become  much  swollen,  and 
there  is  general  debility.  This  disease  is  supposed  to  arise 
from  bad  grooming,  bad  management,  and  unwholesome  food, 
together  with  a  general  plethoric  state  of  the  system. 

For  treatment,  bleed  the  animal  if  plethoric,  taking  from 


S32  STRAINS  OF  THE   LOINS. 

the  neck  yein  from  four  to  six  quarts ;  in  the  absence  of 
plethora,  the  lancet  must  not  be  used.  Give  a  strong  purging 
ball;  followed  by  one  of  these  powders  twice  a  day :  saltpetre, 
one  and  a  half  ounces ;  flower  of  sulphur,  two  ounces  ;  black 
antimony,  one  ounce  j  mix  and  divide  into  eight  powders. 


HIDE  BOUND. 

This  is  a  condition  of  the  skin,  caused  by  some  morbid  action 
in  the  system.  Derangement  of  the  digestive  organs  will  in- 
duce it.  The  animal  must  be  treated  for  the  disease  undei* 
which  it  is  laboring. 


STRAINS  OF  THE  LOINS. 

Strains  are  of  very  frequent  occurrence  in  the  horse,  in  con- 
sequence, doubtless,  of  the  great  amount  of  labor  demanded  of 
him,  which  often  taxes  his  powers  to  the  utmost.  These  strains 
frequently  give  rise  to  serious  trouble,  rendering  the  animal 
unfit  for  work  and  often  establishing  an  incurable  lameness. 
Strains  of  the  loins  occur  most  frequently  in  draft  horses,  par- 
ticularly in  those  used  in  the  shafts  of  drays  or  carts.  Such 
animals  on  going  down  hill  heavily  loaded  are  very  apt  to  be- 
come injured ;  at  times  the  injury  is  so  great  that  the  spinal 
marrow  becomes  affected,  causing  paralysis  of  the  hind  extre- 
mities,  and  rendering  the  animal  comparatively  useless  ever 
after.  When  the  injury  is  very  severe,  bleednig  should  be  re- 
sorted to,  if  the  animal  can  bear  it.  The  following  liniment 
will  be  found  an  excellent  application  for  strains  of  all  kinds : 
laudanum,  gum  camphor,  spirits  of  turpentine,  tincture  of  myrrh, 
castile  soap,  oil  origanum,  nitroua  ether.  0/  each  one  ounce; 


LOCKED  JAW.  333 

alcohol,  one  quart ;  mix  all  together,  and  shake  well  before 
using ;  apply  two  or  three  times  as  occasion  may  require. 


PALSY. 

This  is  a  loss  of  power  in  the  nervous  system.  General  palsy 
is  never  found  in  the  horse,  it  being  always  partial  or  limited 
in  extent,  and  described  under  two  heads,  paraplegia  and  hemi- 
plegia. The  first  is  a  paralysis  of  the  hind  extremities,  which 
is  of  very  frequent  occurrence ;  it  sometimes  occurs  as  a  sym- 
pathetic affection,  in  which  cases  it  disappears  with  the  other 
symptoms  of  the  disease.  The  second  form  is  a  palsy  of  one 
side  of  the  body  only,  and  is  of  very  rare  occurrence.  When 
paralysis  arises  from  strains  whereby  the  spinal  cord  is  injured, 
it  causes  the  most  acute  suffering,  and  the  animal  usually  dies 
in  a  few  days.  When  the  pressure  upon  the  spinal  cord  is  not 
great,  the  animal  is  sometimes  rendered  useful  for  ordinary 
purposes,  but  very  rarely  becomes  sound. 

For  treatment,  first  open  the  bowels  if  they  are  the  least  cos- 
tive, and  give  internally  one  of  the  following  powders  night  and 
morning  ;  nux  vomica,  one  ounce  ;  pulverized  gentian  root,  two 
ounces  ;  Jamaica  ginger,  one  ounce  ;  mix,  and  divide  into  twelve 
powders.  Apply  warm  sheep-skins  to  the  loins,  succeeded  by 
tlie  following  application :  linseed  oil,  one  pint ;  spirits  of  harts- 
horn, four  ounces  ;  shake  well  before  using.  Perfect  rest  and 
moderate  diet  are  necessary. 


LOCKED  JAW. 

This  distressing  malady,  otherwise  known  as  tetanus  or  tris- 
mus, is  .one  generally  arising  from  neglected  wounds,  such  as 


334  LOCKED  JAW. 

are  occasioned  by  a  horse's  picking  up  a  nail ;  in  which  case 
the  wound,  instead  of  being  kept  open  by  the  owner,  or  his 
attendant,  is  suffered  to  close  up,  in  consequence  of  which,  if 
there  is  the  slightest  disposition  to  ulceration,  matter  is  formed 
under  the  horn  or  hoof,  which  develops  the  most  alarming 
symptoms,  usually  in  about  two  weeks  after  the  wound  has 
healed.  When  locked  jaw  is  the  result  of  wounds,  it  is  called 
symptomatic,  or  traumatic ;  when  existing  without  apparent 
cause,  it  is  called  idiopathic.  The  latter  is  said  to  be  caused  in 
some  cases  by  the  action  of  bots  and  of  worms  in  the  intestines. 

The  first  symptoms  observable  are  a  stiff,  straggling  gait 
behind ;  rigidity  of  the  muscles  of  the  jaw,  completely  locking 
the  jaws  together;  the  tongue  is  sometimes  swollen,  and  con- 
siderable saliva  flows  from  the  mouth.  As  the  disease  pro-* 
grasses,  the  muscles  throughout  the  body  become  rigid;  the 
animal  turns  as  though  there  was  not  a  joint  in  the  body ;  the 
nose  is  poked  out,  the  nostrils  dilated,  and  respiration  disturbed  ; 
the  bowels  are  almost  invariably  constipated ;  on  elevating  the 
head,  a  spasmodic  or  flickering  motion  of  the  eye  will  be  ob- 
served, exposing  little  more  than  the  white  parts.  When  the 
disease  is  confined  to  the  head  and  neck,  it  is  called  trismus; 
when  extended  to  all  parts  of  the  body,  it  is  termed  tetaiiKs. 

There  can  scarcely  be  any  principle  laid  down  to  govern  the 
treatment  of  this  disease,  as  cases  have  recovered  under  all  kinds 
of  treatment.  The  great  object  is  to  get  the  bowels  opened  ; 
when  this  is  accomplished,  the  cases  usually  have  a  favorable 
termination  ;  but  when  the  jaws  are  firmly  set,  the  prospects  are 
very  limited.  Give,  if  possible,  by  the  mouth  one  ounce  of  aloes, 
ten  drops  of  croton  oil,  two  drachms  of  pulverized  gentian  root, 
and  one  drachm  of  ginger;  make  into  one  ball  with  molasses. 


RHEUMATISM.  335 

If  this  cannot  be  given,  keep  a  ball  of  aloes  in  the  mouth,  the 
action  of  which  may  be  increased  by  adding  to  the  ball  two 
drachms  of  calo- 
mel, and  omitting 
the  c  rot  on  oil. 
Give  injections  of 
belladonna,  half 
an  ounce  dissolved 
in  a  pail  of  water. 
Opium  has  been 
much  used,  but  is 
giving  way  to 
other    prepara-  bvron's  mazeppa. 

.  "  They  left  me  there  to  my  despair, 

tions.      Give  upon  Liuk'd  to  the  dead  and  stiffening  wretch." 

the  tongue  every  hour  twenty  drops  of  the  following  mixture : 
hydrocyanic  acid  and  tincture  of  aconite,  of  each  one  ounce  ; 
mix,  and  shake,  well  together.  Blistering  the  back,  from  the 
head  to  the  tail,  has  succeeded  in  some  cases.  Chloroform  has 
been  highly  recommended,  but  appears  to  have  only  a  tempo- 
rary effect;  ii  is  given  in  doses  of  from  one  to  two  drachms. 


RHEUMATISM. 

This  disease  is  quite  common  in  the  Western  States.  The 
symptoms  are  stiffness,  lameness,  and  shifting  from  one  limb  to 
another ;  sometimes  tumefaction  is  observable  about  the  extre- 
mities. The  lameness  is  sometimes  absent,  and  appears  to  be 
influenced  by  changes  in  the  weather. 

For  treatment,  poultice  the  feet  with  mustard  and  flaxseed 
meal.  Give  internally  of  nux  vomica,  one  ounce;  pulverized 
gentian  root,  one  and  a  half  ounces ;  pulverized  ginger,  ono 


336  HYDROCELE. 

ounce ;  mix,  and  divide  into  twelve  powders ;  give  one  every 
night  in  the  feed. 

The  most  successful  treatment  wliich  the  author  has  found, 
when  the  above  has  failed  to  effect  a  perfect  cure,  is  that 
recommended  by  Dr.  Bowler,  of  Cincinnati,  whose  experi- 
ence in  baffling  this  disease  has  been  quite  considerable.  It  is 
as  follows  : — if  the  animal  is  plethoric,  bleed  freely  and  give  a 
strong  cathartic ;  follow  every  morning  with  one  of  the  following 
balls  :  pine  tar,  two  ounces ;  pulverized  gentian  root,  one  ounce ; 
mix  all  together,  and  divide  into  eight  balls.  Keep  the  body 
warm,  and  give  no  corn.  ' 


CEAMP. 

This  complaint  occasions  considerable  alarm  to  the  owner  of 
a  horse,  from  the  peculiarity  of  the  symptoms.  A  horse  is  found 
to  go  suddenly  lame,  lameness  continuing,  dragging  one  leg 
after  him  as  though  it  were  dislocated  or  broken.  Upon  taking 
a  whip  and  striking  him,  he  will  sometimes  go  two  or  three 
steps  in  a  natural  way,  and  then  the  leg  drags  again.  Such 
instances  have  been  pronounced  fractures  by  the  farrier,  and 
even  by  the  young  veterinarian  such  a  mistake  has  been  made; 
indeed,  there  are  instances  of  the  horse's  having  been  killed  by 
order  of  the  medical  attendant. 

Treatment.  Friction  by  hand-rubbing,  and  application  of 
the  liniment  recommended  for  strains.  Usually  the  animal  will 
be  found  all  right  upon  the  following  day. 


HYDBOCELE. 

This   disease  commonly  known   as  dropsy  of  the  testicles, 
eometimes  affects  the  stallion.     It  consists  of  a  collection  of 


SIT-FASTS.  33T 

serum  in  the  tunica  vaginalis,  or  bag  containing  the  testes, 
fluctuating  when  pressed  by  the  hand,  but  free  from  tenderness 
or  pain.  Its  causes  are  obscure,  but  it  is  supposed  to  result 
from  injuries,  such  as  strains,  etc. 

For  treatment,  the  scrotum  should  be  punctured,  and  a  weak 
solution  of  tincture  of  iodine  injected  into  the  tunica  vaginalis  ; 
or  equal  parts  of  port  wine,  and  water  of  zinc  lotion,  or  lime 
water,  may  be  used  with  very  good  effect.  The  animal  should 
be  well  secured  before  these  preparations,  particularly  the  firsts 
are  used,  as  the  pain  thereby  caused  may  render  him  for  the 
time  unmanageable. 


"WAETS. 

These  fungous  growths  appear  in  the  horse  most  frequently 
about  the  mouth,  nose,  and  lips ;  but  they  are  occasionally 
found  upon  other  parts  of  the  body.  They  are  sometimes  found 
in  large  numbers  about  the  lips  of  colts,  and  are  generally  rubbed 
off,  or  drop  off;  if,  however,  they  grow  large  and  become 
deeply  rooted,  they  may  be  cut  off  by  passing  a  needle  through 
the  centre  armed  with  double  thread,  and  tied  tightly  around 
the  neck  on  each  side.  This  prevents  the  possibility  of  the 
ligatures  being  rubbed  off.  Or,  they  may  be  painted  over  wiih 
the  per-manganate  of  potash,  a  few  applications  of  which  will 
entirely  destroy  warts  of  a  large  size;  or  they  may  be  removed 
with  a  knife. 


SIT-FASTS. 
These  are  dark,  hard,  scabby  spots  upon  the  back,  which  are 
dead  skin  and  cannot  be  easily  removed ;  but  by  poulticing  for 
several  days  they  become  soft  and  may  be  torn  off.     Tincture 
22 


S3  8  MALLANDERS  AND  SELLENDERS. 

of  myrrh  applied  two  or  three  times  a  day  will  generally  effect 
a  cure  after  the  dead  skin  is  removed. 


WAEBLES. 

These  arise  from  bruises,  which  cause  superficial  swellings 
that  sometimes  suppurate.  They  should  be  freely  opened  and 
the  matter  well  washed  out.  A  solution  of  sulphate  of  zinc,  or 
alum-water,  is  all  that  is  required  to  effect  a  cure. 


SADDLE    OR    HARWESS    GALIxS. 

These  are  bruises  caused  by  friction  and  moisture,  occurring 
most  frequently  in  warm  weather ;  the  parts  are  rubbed  raw, 
and  sometimes  bleed.  The  treatment  is  simple  and  effectual. 
Bathe  the  parts  several  times  a  day  with  one  pint  of  water  and 
half  a  plat  of  tincture  of  myrrh. 


rJLALLANDERS    AND    SELLENDERS. 

These  are  scurfy  eruptions  of  the  back  part  of  the  knee 
joint  and  the  front  part  of  the  hock  joint.  They  sometimes 
occasion  much  pain,  and  lameness  in  consequence.  They  con- 
stitute but  one  disease,  the  names  having  reference  to  the  fore 
and  hind  extremities ;  mallenders  being  applied  to  eruptions 
upon  the  fore  extremities,  and  sellenders  to  those  upon  the 
hind  ones. 

For  treatment,  wash  the  parts  well  with  castile  soap  and 
water,  and  apply  the  following  :  lard,  four  ounces,  and  Goulard's 
extract,  one  ounce,  well  mixed. 


SURGICAL   CASES.  339 

ULCERATION    OF    THE    UDDER. 

Mares  are  sometimes  subject  to  this  disease,  wliicli  is  caused 
by  the  milk's  coagulating  in  the  bag,  and  causing  inflamma- 
tion and  suppuration.  The  udder  becomes  swollen,  hot, 
tender,  hard,  and  knotty.  A  flaxseed  poultice  should  at  once 
be  applied,  when  the  abscess  will  soon  be  brought  to  a  head, 
which  will  be  known  by  its  smooth,  polished  appearance  and 
its  soft  feeling.  It  should  then  be  lanced,  and  the  udder 
bathed  twice  a  day  with  lard  melted-  as  hot  as  the  animal  can 
bear.  Sometimes  it  becomes  necessary  to  inject  a  solution  of 
the  sulphate  of  zinc  into  the  opening  ;  but  in  ordinary  cases 
the  hot  lard  is  sufficient,  if  properly  applied. 


INFLAMED    VEINS. 

The  jugular  or  neck  vein  sometimes  becomes  inflamed  in 
consequence  of  being  injured  by  a  bungling  bleeder.  A  swell- 
ing is  first  noticed,  followed  by  a  gaping  in  the  incision  in  the 
neck,  from  which  an  acrid  fluid  oozes. 

For  treatment,  bathe  the  part  well  with  cold  water,  into 
Which  a  small  portion  of  tincture  of  myrrh  is  thrown,  and  with 
6,  purging  ball  a  cure  is  soon  effected. 


SURGICAL    CASES. 


It  frequently  becomes  necessary,  in  order  to  relieve  the 
animal  from  some  painful  disease,  to  resort  to  operations  in 
Burgery ;  this,  in  fact,  has  of  late  years  become  an  important 


340  SURGICAL  CASES. 

branch  of  veterinary  practice.  When  it  becomes  necessary  to 
use  the  knife,  the  animal  should  be  spared  all  useless  torture. 
In  severe  operations,  humanity  dictates  the  use  of  some  anses- 
thetic  agent  to  render  the  animal  insensible  to  pain.  Chloro- 
form is  the  most  powerful  of  this  class,  and  may  be  adminis- 
tered with  perfect  safety,  provided  a  moderate  quantity  of 
atmospheric  air  is  inhaled  with  or  during  its  administration. 
Sulphuric  ether  acts  very  feebly  upon  the  horse,  and  cannot 
therefore  be  successfully  used.  Chloric  ether  answers  a  very 
good  purpose,  but  pure  chloroform  is  preferable.  In  minor 
operations,  the  twitch,  the  side-hobble,  or  the  foot-strap,  is  all 
that  is  necessary.  When  a  horse  is  to  be  cast  for  an  operation, 
force  must  be  used  for  its  accomplishment.  The  patent  hob- 
bles have  been  preferred  for  that  purpose  by  veterinary  sur- 
geons generally,  though  the  author  prefers  a  modification  of 
the  cast-rope  and  the  patent  hobbles.  This  improvement  con- 
sists in  having  a  heavy,  well-padded  leathern  collar,  each  layer 
burned  in  with  rosin,  after  the  style  of  the  old-fashioned  fire- 
buckets  ;  at  the  bottom  of  this  collar  a  strong  ring  is  attached, 
secured  by  an  iron  band ;  through  this  ring  the  rope  is  passed; 
around  the  body  a  strong  leathern  band  is  buckled,  which 
connects  with  the  top  of  the  collar  by  a  cross  strap,  which 
keeps  it  in  place ;  a  hobble  band  is  placed  upon  each  hind 
fetlock,  through  the  D  of  which  the  rope  is  passed ;  on  each 
side  of  the  collar  a  strong  ring  is  firmly  secured,  through  which 
the  rope  also  passes,  the  ends  of  which  are  then  pulled  upon 
by  one  or  two  men  on  each  side,  and  the  animal  let  quietly 
down.  The  author  is  convinced  by  experience  that  this  ar- 
rangement is  far  preferable  to  any  hobble  arrangement  yet 
seen.  It  is  a  mistaken  idea  that  horses  must  be  cast  for  every 
little  operation;  ia  truth,  but  few  operations  require  it. 


BLEEDINQ.  34  X 

BLEEDING. 

Blood-letting  in  former  times  was  regarded  as  tlie  sheet- 
anchor  in  veterinary  practice ;  but  that  day  has  past.  The 
practice  of  bleeding  horses  upon  all  occasions  cannot  be  too 
strongly  condemned;  the  cases  where  blood-letting  proves 
beneficial  being  comparatively  few.  Before  using  the  lancet 
the  pulse  must  be  examined,  the  condition  of  the  animal  con- 
sidered, and  the  effects  upon  that  pulse  must  decide  the  quan- 
tity of  blood  to  be  taken.  The  pulse  will  be  found  following 
the  front  margin  of  the  masseter  muscle,  which  muscle  forms 
the  fleshy  parts  of  the  head  upon  each  side,  called  the  cheeks. 
By  following  the  front  part  of  this 
muscle  downward  with  the  thumb,  until 
near  the  base  of  the  lower 
jaw,  and  then  passing  the 
forefingers  under,  or  ----^'' 
inside  of  the  jaw,  the 

felt ;    or,  to  point  its  i-ady  scffolk. 

location  out  with  more  certainty,  if  an  imaginary  line  is  drawn 
perpendicularly  from  the  front  part  of  the  ear  downward,  it 
will  cross  the  point  where  the  pnlse  is  located  and  felt. 

In  a  healthy  condition  the  pulse  beats  from  thirty-six  to 
forty  times  a  minute  ;  variation  above  or  below  this  standard 
indicates  a  morbid  condition  of  the  system.  This  fact  should 
be  born  in  mind  in  the  description  of  any  disease.  When 
bleeding  is  necessary,  the  neck  never  should  be  corded,  as 
much  injury  has  at  times  been  caused  by  this  practice.  All 
that  is  requisite  is  to  raise  the  jugular  vein  by  pressing  upon 


342  NEUROTOMY  OR  NERVINGf. 

it  with  the  fingers  of  the  left  hand,  using  the  lance  with  the 
right.  The  old-fashioned  mode  of  bleeding  with  the  fleam 
and  blood-stick  is  a  bungling  operation,  frequently  requiring 
several  trials  before  bringing  blood,  the  result  of  which  is  an 
inflamed  vein.  A  more  convenient,  a  more  certain,  and  a  more 
satisfactory  method  is  by  using  a  spring  lance,  made  for  the 
purpose,  which  never  fails  in  bringing  blood  upon  the  first 
trial.  It  is  so  contrived  as  to  straddle  the  vein  of  the  neck, 
which  keeps  it  firm,  and  prevents  its  rolling,  so  that  it  is  im* 
possible  to  miss  bringing  the  blood  when  it  is  once  placed 
upon  the  vein  and  sprung.  By  this  method  of  bleeding,  the 
covering  of  the  eye  and  the  cording  of  the  neck  are  unnecessary, 
and  the  operation  can  easily  be  accomplished  by  one  person. 
After  the  vein  has  been  opened,  the  blood-pail  pressed  against 
the  vein  will  cause  the  blood  to  flow  freely.  When  the  desired 
quantity  has  been  drawn,  the  vein  must  be  carefully  closed  by 
passing  a  pin  through  the  centre  of  the  opening,  taking 
up  the  skin  upon  both  sides,  and  tying  with  hair  from  the 
mane  or  tail.  The  pin  may  be  removed  in  about  twenty-four 
hours. 


WEUEOTOMY    OR    WERVING. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  important  operations  in  veterinary 
practice,  and  one  that  has  been  much  abused,  not  only  in 
Europe,  but  even  more  so  in  the  United  States.  Its  useful- 
ness was  first  demonstrated  by  Assistant  Professor  Sewell,  of 
the  Yeterinary  College  of  London.  The  operation  consists  in 
cutting  out  a  portion  of  the  metacarpal  nerves  on  each  side 
of  the  legs,  thus  destroying  the  sensibility  of  the  foot.  From 
the  instantaneous  relief  experienced  by  the  animal  in  all  cases 


IfEUROTOMY   OR    NERVING.  543 

of  foot  lameness,  no  matter  from  what  cause,  an  opportunity  has 
been  afforded  to  dishonest  persons  for  imposing  upon  the  public 
by  availing  themselves  of  this  practice  ;  an  opportunity,  it  need 
not  be  said,  which  has  been  freely  used,  and  thus  a  valuable 
operation  has  been  brought  into  undeserved  disrepute.  The 
cases  likely  to  be  benefited  by  this  operation  are  few,  and 
should  be  selected  with  great  care ;  otherwise  the  loss  of 
the  animal's  hoof  may  be,  and  often  is,  the  termination  of 
the  case. 

This  operation  is  recommended  by  veterinary  authors  in 
incurable  cases  of  lameness  of  the  navicular  joint ;  but  suffi- 
cient caution  is  not  impressed  upon  the  mind  of  the  reader,  to 
enable  him  to  guard  against  the  fatal  results  which  too  often 
follow. 

In  deciding  upon  a  case  for  this  operation,  an  animal  should 
be  selected  with  a  foot  as  free  Irom  contraction  as  possible ; 
free  from  corns  ;  comparatively  free  from  inflammation  ;  with  a 
concave  ground  surface  ;  open  heels  ;  hoof  free  from  rings  or 
roughness;  and  no  bony  deposits  within  the  hoof.  In  such  a 
case,  the  operation  may  be  performed  with  success.  A  horse 
that  has  been  foundered  should  not,  under  any  circumstances, 
be  operated  upon,  as  ossification  of  the  laminae  frequently  fol- 
lows such  an  attack ;  nor  a  horse  affected  with  ossification 
of  the  lateral  cartilages,  corns,  or  badly  contracted  hoof;  for 
these  are  the  cases  where  loss  of  the  hoof  is  likely  to  follow, 
rendering  the  animal  useless. 

After  the  operation  has  been  performed,  care  should  be 
taken  in  driving  the  animal ;  for  it  should  be  remembered  that 
no  matter  what  accident  may  happen  to  the  foot,  the  animal 
is.  unconscious  of  pain.     The  feet  should  be  frequently  exam- 


S44  NEUROTOMY  OR  NERVING. 

ined  to  see  whether  the  horse  has  picked  up  a  nail,  or  other 
wise  injured  the  foot ;  for  such  injuries  would  otherwise  re- 
main undiscovered  until  too  late  to  save  the  animal's  life 
or  usefulness.  The  smith  should  be  informed  of  the  opera- 
tion, in  order  to  guard  against  pricking  the  animal's  foot  in 
shoeing. 

It  is  necessary  previous  to  the  operation  that  the  feet  should 
be  perfectly  cool,  which  condition  may  be  obtained  by  frequent 
bathings  with  cold  water  for  several  days  previous.  The  horse 
is  cast,  the  foot  to  be  operated  upon  loosened,  and  brought  for- 
ward by  an  assistant,  it  resting  upon  a  bed  of  straw.  A  verti- 
cal incision  is  made  about  two  inches  above  the  fetlock,  between 
the  cannon  bone  and  back  sinew,  raising  up  with  the  forceps 
the  cellular  membrane,  and  carefully  dissecting  out  the  nerve. 
The  precaution  should  be  taken  of  placing  the  finger  upon  it, 
as  the  artery  has  been  taken  up  and  cut  off  before  the  mistake 
was  discovered.  Having  fairly  exposed  the  nerve,  pass  a  curved 
needle  armed  with  strong  thread  under  it,  and  by  carefully 
drawing  it  up  and  down  the  nerve  may  be  readily  separated. 
A  sheathed  knife  is  then  passed  under  the  nerve,  and  by  a  quick 
motion  the  nerve  is  severed  at  the  upper  part.  After  the  strug' 
gles  of  the  animal  cease,  the  cut  nerve  may  be  raised  with  the 
forceps,  and  from  one-half  of  an  inch  to  an  inch  removed.  This 
second  cut  causes  no  pain.  The  wound  is  then  closed  by  three 
single  stitches.  After  operating  upon  both  sides  in  like  manner, 
the  animal  is  allowed  to  rise.  Bandages  should  then  be  placed 
upon  the  leg,  and  kept  saturated  for  several  days  with  cold 
water. 


TREPHTNTNa  345 

LITHOTOMY. 

Operations  for  stone  in  the  bladder  of  the  horse  have  been 
practised  since  11*14,  and  in  many  cases  very  successfully.  In 
performing  this  operation,  an  ordinary  scalpel,  a  probe-poinled 
bistoury,  a  fluted  whalebone  staff,  and  a  pair  of  curved  forcei^s 
are  necessary.  The  animal  should  be  placed  upon  his  back  with 
the  hind  legs  drawn  well  forward  ;  a  whalebone  staff  is  passed 
up  the  urethra,  which  may  be  felt  a  little  below  the  anus ;  an 
incision,  one  and  a  half  or  two  inches  in  length  is  made  directly 
upon  it,  obliquely  to  one  side,  cutting  through  the  urethra  and 
the  neck  of  the  bladder ;  the  forceps  are  next  introduced,  and 
the  stone  removed ;  after  which  the  parts  are  carefully  closed 
by  means  of  the  quill  suture,  which  in  this  operation  is  far  su- 
perior to  the  interrupted  one,  as  it  more  effectually  prevents  the 
dribbling  of  urine  through  the  wound,  which  always  occurs  with 
the  interrupted  one,  and  therefore  causes  a  more  speedy  union 
of  the  parts. 


TBEPHINING. 

This  operation  consists  in  cutting  out  circular  pieces  of  bone 
with  a  circular  saw,  called  a  trephine,  and  is  most  generally 
performed  in  cases  of  fracture  of  the  skull,  or  face.  The  bone 
removed  must  be  from  the  sound  part  contiguous  to  the  frac- 
ture, so  as  to  enable  an  elevator  to  be  passed  inside  of  the  cra- 
nial case,  for  the  purpose  of  pushing  back  the  broken  bone  to 
its  proper  place,  and  removing  all  detached  pieces.  This  ope- 
ration is  also  performed  in  cases  of  ozena,  by  removing  a  piece 
of  bone  over  the  frontal  sinuses,  situated  immediately  between 
the  eyes,  in  order  to  expose  the  diseased  parts  at  once,  that  they 
may  be  washed  with  proper  injections. 


S46  TAPPING   THE   CHEST. 

TENOTOMY. 

This  operation  is  practised  for  the  purpose  of  strengthening 
crooked  legs  or  sprung  knees.  It  consists  in  dividing  the  flexor 
tendons,  in  order  to  bring  the  limb  straight.  There  are  but  few 
cases,  however,  in  which  the  operation  would  be  of  much  service, 
and  therefore  care  must  be  exercised  in  selecting  such  cases  as 
are  proper.  It  would  hardly  be  proper  in  a  young  horse,  as 
other  means  less  objectionable  often  succeed.  In  old  horses  it 
would  not  be  prudent,  as  their  limbs  are  generally  stiflT  and 
permanently  set ;  nor  would  it  be  successful  in  cases  where  an- 
chylosis or  stiff  joint  existed,  as  is  often  found  in  connection 
with  crooked  legs  and  sprung  knees. 


COUCHING. 

This  is  an  operation  upon  the  eye  for  the  purpose  of  remov- 
ing a  cataract  from  the  axis  of  vision.  A  couching  needle  is 
passed  through  the  sclerotic  coat  of  the  eye  a  little  behind  the 
cornea,  passing  it  upward  behind  the  iris  to  where  the  cataract 
is  located,  pressing  it  downward  into  the  vitreous  humor  behind 
the  iris,  where  it  remains.  This  operation  has  not  been  very 
successful  in  the  horse,  by  reason  of  the  imperfect  restoration 
of  the  sight  thereby  afforded,  which  causes  them  in  almost  every 
instance  to  shy  at  every  object  which  they  encounter,  thus  ren- 
dering them  dangerous  upon  the  road. 


TAPPING  THE  CHEST. 

This  operation  consists  in  passing  a  round,  pointed  instru- 
ment, sheathed  with  a  cauula,  into  the  chest,  in  order  to  dr^v7. 


AMPUTATION   OF  THE  PENI3.  34T 

off  any  accumulation  of  fluid  that  may  have  taken  place  in  the 
viscus.  The  instrument  is  passed,  after  first  making  a  small  in- 
cision through  the  skin,  between  the  eighth  and  ninth  ribs,  but 
not  too  low  down.  It  is  pushed  gently  forward  until  it  pene- 
trates the  pleura,  or  lining  membrane  of  the  chest.  The  stellet 
is  then  withdrawn,  and  the  canula  is  kept  in  place  until  the  fluid 
ceases  to  run.  If,  however,  a  large  quantity  exists,  all  of  it 
should  not  be  taken  away  at  one  time  ;  for  the  pressure  upon  the 
lungs  having  been  so  great,  if  such  sudden  relief  is  afforded, 
nature,  unable  to  accommodate  herself  to  so  rapid  au  alteration 
gives  way,  and  the  animal  consequently  dies.  It  should  there- 
fore be  taken  away  at  one,  two,  or  three  tappings,  as  occasion 
may  require.     Good  wholesome  food  should  be  allowed. 


PERIOSTEOTOMY. 

This  operation  is  most  generally  performed  for  painful  splints. 
It  consists  in  cutting  though  the  periosteum,  or  membrane 
covering  the  surface  of  all  bones,  over  the  splint  or  node,  which 
immediately  gives  relief.  This  operation  requires  the  aid  of  an 
experienced  man. 


AMPUTATION  OF  THE  PENIS. 

This  operation  is  occasionally  called  for  in  the  horse,  particu- 
larly in  cases  of  paraphymosis,  or  protrusion  of  the  penis,  that 
have  resisted  all  other  modes  of  treatment.  The  operation,  as 
performed  in  England,  is  unnecessarily  tedious,  and  not  as  suc- 
cessful as  it  should  be.  It  is  only  requisite  in  performing  this 
operation  to  place  a  twitch  upon  the  animal,  and  while  he  is 
standing  to  take  the  penis  in  the  left  hand,  and  with  an  ampu- 


S48  CESEOPHAGOTOMY. 

tating  knife  in  the  right  to  sever  it  at  one  stroke.  The  he- 
morrhage, although  considerable,  need  not  occasion  any  alarm. 
A  piece  of  cotton  or  soft  sponge,  saturated  with  spirits  of  tur 
pentine  or  any  other  styptic,  and  placed  in  the  sheath,  will  soon 
cause  the  hemorrhage  to  cease.  Fear  of  hemorrhage,  may 
deter  some  persons  from  performing  what  may  appear  a  bold 
operation  ;  but  the  author  has  not  known  a  single  operation 
performed  in  this  way  to  have  a  fatal  termination  ;  whereas  with 
the  English  mode  of  operating  it  frequently  does  so,  beside, 
even  if  it  is  successful,  rendering  the  animal  useless  for  a  mucl? 
greater  period  of  time. 


CESOPHAGOTOMY. 

This  operation  is  occasionally  resorted  to  where  any  foreign 
substance,  as  an  apple,  potato,  carrot,  and  the  like,  has  lodged 
in  the  oesophagus,  or  gullet.  Where  such  obstructions  exist, 
gentle  manipulations  with  the  hand  should  first  be  resorted  to ; 
if  these  are  not  successful  in  removing  them,  the  probang  is  called 
for,  and  in  case  of  failure  thus  to  dislodge  them,  this  operation  is 
the  only  remaining  resort.  It  is  not  necessary  to  cast  the  animal. 
Cut  down  directly  upon  the  swollen  part  of  the  throat,  and  re- 
move the  obstruction.  The  wound  may  then  be  closed  by  means 
of  the  interrupted  suture ;  that  is,  by  single  stitches,  at  propei* 
distances  apart,  allowing  the  ends  to  hang  out  of  the  external 
wound,  which  may  be  closed  in  the  same  manner.  The  animal 
Bhould  be  kept  on  gruel  for  several  days.  If  the  gruel  is  seen 
to  ooze  out  of  the  wound  when  he  is  swallowing,  it  should  be 
carefully  washed  away  with  cold  water.  The  parts  should  be 
Byringed  with  a  weak  solution  of  sulphate  of  zinc,  chloride  of 
zinc,  or  tincture  of  myrrh. 


HERNIA. 


340 


HEENIA. 

By  the  terra  licniia  surgeons  understand  a  rupture,  or  protru- 
Bion  of  some  of  the  viscera  out  of  the  abdomen,  forming  a  soft 
tumor.  Tu  human  practice  there  are  hernias  occurring  in  all 
the  viscera  of  the  body  ;  but  in  the  equine  race  they  are  confined, 
with  rare  exceptions,  to  the  abdominal  viscera,  the  inguinal 
hernia  being  the  most  common.  This  appears  in  the  groin,  and 
is  a  protrusion  of  the  intestine  through  the  abdominal  ring, 
which  in  the  stallion  frequently  passes  down  into  the  scrotum,  or 
bag,  constituting  scrotal  hernia.  These  hernias  sometimes  occur 
during  castration  in  consequence  of  the  violent  struggles  of  the 
animal.  In  such  cases  it  is  best  to  administer  chloroform  at  once 
in  order  to  quiet  the  animal  and  prevent  violent  strugglings.  The 
animal  should  be  put  upon  his  back,  and  one  hand  passed  up  the 
rectum,  and  one  or  two  fingers  of  the  other  placed  upon  the 
scrotum,  when  by  careful  manipulations  the  intestine  can  gene- 
rally be  replaced.     If,  however,  a  reduc- ,  ^_ ^    _ 

tion  cannot  be  efi'ected,  an  operation  will  ^TO^  -^ 

be  n  ecessary. 

The  hernia  should 

be  exposed  by 

cutting     through  ^ 

the  integument  a  pi 

little  npon  one  J 

side,  and  coming 

down    upon    the 

hernia,  the  finger 

is  placed  upon  it, 

and  a  reduction  efi'ected  by  careful  manipulation.     Care  should 

be  taken  that  the  nails  upon  the  hand  are  trimmed  close,  in 


GOOD  FOB  HEAVr  DRAFTS. 


350  ROWELTNG. 

order  to  prevent  wounding  the  intestine.  The  wound  should 
then  be  closed  by  means  of  the  interrupted  suture.  A  folded 
cloth  should  then  be  applied  to  the  part,  and  retained  by  means  of 
a  continuous  bandage  crossed  between  the  legs  from  side  to  side 
in  the  form  of  the  figure  8.  Sometimes  the  intestine  becomes 
strangulated,  constituting  strangulated  hernia,  the  reduction  of 
which  requires  an  operation  as  before  mentioned.  If,  however, 
it  is  found  impossible,  then  to  reduce  it,  the  finger  should  be 
passed  through  the  opening,  if  possible,  and  a  probe-pointed 
bistoury  following  upon  it,  enlarge  the  opening  and  replace  the 
intestine.  The  same  treatment  as  before  indicated  will  be  ne- 
cessary. 

The  symptoms  of  strangulated  hernia  are  very  similar  to 
those  of  acute  enteritis,  or  inflammation  of  the  bowels.  These 
may  be  regarded  as  the  only  hernias  to  which  the  horse  is 
liable. 


ROWELING. 

Kowels  were  formerly  much  used,  but  of  late  years  the  seton 
has  superseded  them.  The  rowel  consists  of  a  round  piece  of 
sole  leather,  cut  out  in  the  centre  wound  round  with  tow,  which 
is  saturated  before  using  with  digestive  ointment.  The  skin  is 
cut  through,  and  dissected  upon  each  side  sufficiently  to  admit 
the  rowel.  This  is  used  principally  under  the  jaws  and  in  the 
breast.  The  seton  answers  the  same  purpose,  and  is  much  more 
convenient.  It  consists  in  arming  a  needle  made  for  the  pur- 
pose with  tape  and  passing  it  through  the  part  desired,  the 
seton  being  saturated  with  the  same  ointment  as  the  rowel. 


riRiNa.  351 

FIRING. 

The  object  in  firing  a  horse  is  to  produce  an  external  inflam- 
mation where  counter-action  is  required,  as  in  spavin,  ringbone, 
curbs,  etc.  The  operation  may  be  performed  upon  the  animal 
while  standing,  by  placing  a  twitch  and  side  line  upon  him  ; 
but  if  the  surface  to  be  fired  is  extensive,  and  the  animal  high 
strung,  it  is  better  to  cast  him,  particularly  where  a  number  of 
oblique,  vertical,  or  horizontal  lines  are  to  be  drawn.  Firing 
is  not  practised  at  the  present  day  to  the  extent  that  it  formerly 
was,  and  when  it  is  practised  every  endeavor  should  be  made  to 
prevent,  as  far  as  possible,  the  blemishes  which  always  follow 
the  operation.  Yarious  forms  of  irons  have  been  adopted  to 
accomplish  this  end.  The  author  gives  the  preference  to  the 
feathered  iron,  which  is  brought  down  to  a  very  fine  edge,  and, 
opinions  are  entertained  by  veterinary  surgeons  as  to  the  ad- 
vantages resulting  from  deep  firing  as  compared  with  those 
accruing  from  surface  firing.  In  the  author's  judgment,  if  firing 
is  resorted  to  at  all,  it  should  be  done  effectually.  His  attention 
has  recently  been  called  to  a  firing  iron  devised  by  A.  Maillard, 
Esq.,  of  Bordentown,  New  Jersey,  which  is  the  best  adapted  in- 
strument that  has  ever  passed  under  his  notice.  It  consists  of  two 
pieces  of  iron,  octagonal  in  form,  about  one  and  a  half  inches 
long  by  one  and  a  quarter  wide,  one  piece  containing  five 
round-pointed  projections,  placed  one  at  each  corner  and  one 
at  the  centre,  and  the  other  four  points,  so  arranged  as,  when 
fitted  together,  to  fill  up  the  intermediate  spaces  of  its  opposite  ; 
both  irons  being  used  alternately  on  the  same  parts  without  ex- 
tending the  surface  fired.  This  iron  will  probably  supersede 
any  iron  in  use,  and  thanks  are  due  to  the  inventor  for  his  ia- 


S52  TRACHEOTOMY. 

genuityin  producing  it.     Pointed  instruments  have  been  before 
used,  but  far  inferior  in  their  arrangement. 


TRACHEOTOMY. 

This  operation  is  occasionally  called  for  in  cases  of  strangles, 
when  the  swelling  threatens  suffocation,  as  it  is  often  the  only 
means  of  saving  the  animal's  life.  It  consists  in  making  a  lon- 
gitudinal incision  through  the  skin  immediately  over  the  wind- 
pipe and  below  the  larynx,  cutting  through  the  cartilaginous 
rings  (two  or  more,  as  occasion  requires),  and  inserting  in  the 
opening  a  tube  of  silver  made  for  the  purpose,  through  which 
the  animal  breathes,  instead  of  through  the  nostrils.  A  circular 
piece  is  sometimes  cut  out  of  the  windpipe  in  order  to  admit  the 
tube  more  freely,  which  is  certainly  the  better  mode  of  perform- 
ing the  operation.  In  a  case  of  emergency,  a  piece  of  elder 
with  the  pith  pushed  out  will  answer  temporary  purposes.  It 
should  be  well  secured  from  slipping  into  the  windpipe  by 
means  of  a  piece  of  string. 


^^^^m     The  Horse  Tamed. 

^M^'V  TMIMMMS. 

m     The  great  celebrity  which  Mr.  Rarey  obtained 
p      in  England  and  France,  owing  to  his  unparalleled 
J  success   in   rendering   the  most  vicious   and   un- 
to    governable  horses  perfectly  tractable  and  gentle, 
has  excited  no  small  degree  of  interest  and  curi- 
osity among  us,  to  ascertain  the  method  which  he  adopts  to 
secure  such  noteworthy  results.    To  gratify  this  interest,  as  laud- 
able as  it  is  natural,  we  propose  in  this  place  giving  the  leading 
23  (3^3> 


354  RAREY^S   METHOD   OF   TAMING   HORSES. 

features  of  his  method,  as  gleaned  from  the  various  EnglisK 
publications  bearing  upon  the  subject,  especially  from  the  little 
work,  entitled  "  The  Art  ofTaming  Horses.  By  J.  S.  Rarey," 
and  edited  by  the  Hunting  Correspondent  of  "  The  Illustrated 
London  News." 

It  is  needless  to  premise,  that  not  every  man  can  become  a 
Karey,  by  the  perusal  of  this,  or  of  any  other  treatise  upon  the  art 
of  breaking  horses ;  yet  it  is  not  claiming  too  much  for  this  system 
to  say,  that  by  its  use  the  large  majority  of  horses  may  be  broken 
more  expeditiously,  more  effectually,  and  with  far  more  satis- 
faction and  pleasure  to  the  breaker  than  by  the  adoption  of  any 
other  now  known.  It  is  no  slight  gain,  to  be  able  to  transfer 
the  breaking  of  horses  from  ignorant,  impatient,  and  disagree- 
able persons  to  those  who  can  in  every  respect' appreciate  the 
noble  qualities  of  the  animal  and  who  will  therefore  deal  with 
him  as  his  high  rank  in  the  scale  of  creation  demands. 

The  three  fundamental  principles  of  the  Rarey  theory  are : 
first,  that  the  horse  is  so  constituted  by  nature  that  he  will  not 
offer  resistance  to  any  demand  made  of  him  which  he  fully  com- 
prehends, if  such  demand  is  made  in  a  way  consistent  with  the 
laws  of  his  nature  ;  second,  that  he  has  no  consciousness  of  his 
strength  beyond  his  experience,  and  can  be  handled  according 
to  our  will  without  force ;  and  third,  that  we  can,  in  compliance 
with  the  laws  of  his  nature,  by  which  he  examines  all  things 
new  to  him,  take  any  object  however  frightful  around,  over,  or 
on  him,  that  does  not  inflict  pain,  without  causing  him  to  fear. 

As  to  the  first  proposition  : — the  horse,  although  possessed  of 
some  faculties  superior  to  man's  yet  being  deficient  in  reasoning 
powers,  has  no  knowledge  of  right  or  wrong,  of  free  will  and 
independent  government,  and  is  not  aware  of  any  imposition 


rarey's  method  of  taming  horses.  355 

practised  upon  him,  however  unreasonable  it  may  be.  He  can- 
not, consequently,  decide  as  to  what  he  should,  or  should  not 
do,  not  having  the  requisite  faculties  to  enable  him  to  argue  the 
justice  of  the  thing  demanded  of  him.  Had  he  such  faculties, 
taking  into  consideration  his  superior  strength,  he  would  be 
useless  to  man  as  a  servant.  If  he  had  mind  in  proportion  to 
his  strength,  he  would  roam  through  the  fields  at  large,  yield- 
ing service  to  no  one.  His  nature  has  been  wisely  formed  to 
be  operated  upon  by  the  knowledge  of  man  according  to  the 
dictates  of  his  will,  and  he  may  properly  be  termed  an  uncon-. 
scions  submissive  servant.  This  truth  is  verified  in  every  day's 
experience  by  the  abuse  to  which  he  is  subjected.  Any  oue 
who  chooses  to  be  so  cruel  can  mount  the  noble  steed,  and  run 
him  till  he  drops  with  fatigue,  or,  as  is  often  the  case  with  the 
more  spirited,  falls  dead  beneath  his  rider.  If  he  had  the  power 
to  reason,  would  he  not  rear  and  pitch  his  rider,  rather  than 
suffer  him  to  run  him  to  death  ?  Happily  for  us,  he  has  no 
thought  of  disobedience,  except  by  impulse  caused  by  the  vio- 
lation of  the  law  of  his  nature.  If  then,  he  is  disobedient,  it  is 
the  fault  of  man. 

As  to  the  second :  the  fact  that  the  horse  is  unconscious  of 
the  amount  of  his  strength,  can  be  proven  to  the  satisfaction 
of  any  one.  Were  it  otherwise,  the  light  vehicle  in  which  he 
is  placed,  the  slender  reins  and  harness  which  guide  and  con- 
fine him,  would  be  snapped  asunder  in  an  instant,  at  his  own 
volition ;  no  hitching-post  could  restrain  him  against  his  will, 
no  saddle  girth  be  placed  around  his  body.  These  facts, 
made  common  by  every-day  occurrence,  are  not  regarded  as 
anything  wonderful.  Their  continued  existence  serves  to  re- 
move us  from  all  consideration  of  them. 


356        RAREY'S  METHOD  OP  TAMING  HORSES. 

As  to  tlie  third :  there  being,  as  we  know  from  a  natural 
course  of  reasoning,  some  cause  for  every  impulse  or  move- 
ment of  either  mind  or  action,  and  this  law  governing  every 
action  or  movement  of  the  animal  kingdom,  there  must  be 
some  cause  before  fear  can  exist ;  and  if  fear  exists  from  the 
effects  of  imagination,  and  not  from  the  infliction  of  real 
pain,  it  can  be  removed  by  complying  with  those  laws  of 
nature,  by  which  the  horse  examines  an  object,  and  deter- 
mines upon  its  innocence  or  harm. 

A  log  or  stump  by  the  roadside,  for  example,  may  be,  in 
the  imagination  of  the  horse,  some  great  beast  about  to  pounce 
upon  him ;  but  after  he  is  taken  up  to  it,  and  allowed  to  stand 
by  it  for  a  little  time,  and  to  touch  it  with  his  nose,  and  to 
go  through  his  process  of  examination,  he  will  not  care  any- 
thing more  about  it.  The  same  principle  and  process  will 
have  the  same  effect  with  any  other  object,  however  frightful 
in  appearance,  in  which  there  is  no  harm. 

These  principles  being  taken  as  the  basis,  whatever  obstacles 
oppose  the  proper  breaking  of  horses  are  readily  surmounted 
by  the  Rarey  method,  commencing  with  the  first  steps  to  be 
taken  with  the  colt,  and  thence  proceeding  through  the  whole 
task  of  breaking. 

How  TO  Call  a  Colt  from  Pasture. — Go  to  the  pasture 
and  walk  around  the  whole  herd  quietly,  and  at  such  a  dis- 
tance as  not  to  cause  them  to  scare  and  run.  Then  approach 
them  very  slowly,  and  if  they  stick  up  their  heads  and  seem  to 
be  frightened,  stand  still  until  they  become  quiet,  so  as  not  to 
make  them  run  before  you  are  close  enough  to  drive  them  in 
the  direction  you  want  them  to  go.  And  when  you  begin 
to  drive,  do  not  flourish  your  arms  or  halloo,  but  gently  fol- 


rarey's  method  op  taming  horses.  35T 

low  them,  leaving  the  direction  open  that  you  wish  them  to 
take.  Thus  taking  advantage  of  their  ignorance,  you  will  be 
able  to  get  them  into  the  pound  as  easily  as  the  hunter  drives 
the  quails  into  his  net.  For,  if  they  have  always  run  in  the 
pasture  uncared  for  (as  many  horses  do  in  prairie  countries 
and  on  large  plantations),  there  is  no  reason  why  they  should 
not  be  as  "wild  as  the  sportman's  birds,  and  require  the  same 
gentle  treatment,  if  you  want  to  get  them  without  trouble ; 
for  the  horse,  in  his  natural  state  is  as  wild  as  a  stag,  or  any 
of  the  undomesticated  animals,  though  more  easily  tamed. 

How  TO  Stable  a  Golt  without  trouble. — The  next  step 
will  be,  to  get  the  horse  into  a  stable  or  shed.  This  should 
be  done  as  quietly  as  possible,  so  as  not  to  excite  any  sus- 
picion in  the  horse  of  any  danger  befalling  him.  The  best 
way  to  do  this  is  to  lead  a  broken  horse  into  the  stable  first, 
and  hitch  him,  then  quietly  walk  around  the  colt  and  let  him 
go  in  of  his  own  accord.  This  should  be  undertaken  slowly 
and  considerately,  as  one  wrong  move  may  frighten  your 
horse,  and  make  him  think  it  necessary  to  escape  at  all  haz- 
ards for  the  safety  of  his  life — and  thus  make  two  hours'  work 
of  a  ten  minutes'  job ;  and  this  would  be  all  your  own  fault, 
and  entirely  unnecessary — for  heioill  not  run  unless  you  run 
after  him,  and  that  would  not  be  good  policy  unless  you  kneiu 
that  you  could  outrun  him,  for  you  will  have  to  let  him  stop 
of  his  own  accord  after  all.  But  he  will  not  try  to  break 
away  unless  you  attempt  to  force  him  into  measures.  If  he 
does  not  see  the  way  at  once,  and  is  a  little  fretful  about 
going  in,  do  not  undertake  to  drive  him,  but  give  him  a  little 
less  room  outside,  by  gently  closing  in  around  him.  Do  not 
raise  your  arms,  but  let  them  hang  at  your  side,  for  you  might 
as  well  raise  a  club  :  the  horse  has  never  studied  anatomy. 


358  rarey's  method  of  taming  horses. 

and  does  not  knoiv  but  that  tlieij  ivill  unhinge  themselves  and 
fiy  at  him.  If  be  attempts  to  turn  back,  walk  before  bim, 
but  do  not  run  ;  if  be  gets  past  5^ou,  encircle  bim  again  in  tbe 
same  quiet  manner,  and  be  will  soon  find  tbat  you  are  not 
going  to  burt  bim;  and  tben  you  can  walk  so  close  around 
bim  tbat  be  will  go  into  tbe  stable  for  more  room,  and  to  get 
furtber  from  you.  As  soon  as  be  is  in,  remove  tbe  quiet 
horse  and  shut  tbe  door.  Tbis  will  be  bis  first  notion  of  con- 
finement— not  knowing  bow  be  got  into  sucb  a  place,  nor  bow 
to  get  out  of  it.  Tbat  be  may  take  it  as  quietly  as  possible,  see 
tbat  tbe  sbed  is  entirely  free  from  dogs,  cbickens,  or  anytbing 
tbat  would  annoy  bim.  Tben  give  bim  a  few  ears  of  corn, 
and  let  bim  remain  alone  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  until  be 
has  examined  bis  apartment,  and  become  reconciled  to  bis 
confinement. 

While  be  is  eating,  see  tbat  your 
baiter  is  ready  and  all  rigbt,  and  de- 
termine for  yourself  tbe  best  mode  of 
operation.  Always  use  a  leatber  hal- 
ter, and  be  sure  to  have  it  made  so 
tbat  it  will  not  draw  tight  around  bis 
nose  if  he  pulls  on  it.  It  sbould  be  of 
tbe  rigbt  size  to  fit  bis  bead  easily  and 
nicely,  so  tbat  tbe  nose-band  will  not 
be  too  tight  or  too  loose.  Never  put 
f  a  rope  halter  on  an  unbroken  colt, 
BRIDLE  WITH  A  WOODEN  GAG-  uudcr    auy    circumstanccs    wbatever. 

BIT  FOR  CONQUERING   VICIOUS      _^  ,      ,  ,  ,  , 

HORSES.  Hope  halters  have  caused  more  borses 

to  hurt  or  kill  themselves  than  would  pay  for  twice  tbe  cost 
of  all  the  leatber  halters  that  have  ever  been  used  for  the 


rarey's  method  op  taming  horses.  359 

purpose  of  breaking  colts.  It  is  almost  Impossible  to  break 
a  colt  that  is  very  wild  with  a  rope  halter,  without  having  him 
pull,  rear,  and  throw  himself,  and  thus  endanger  his  life ;  and 
this,  because  it  is  just  as  natural  for  a  horse  to  try  to  get  his 
head  out  of  anything  that  hurts  it,  or  feels  unpleasant,  as  it 
would  be  for  you  to  try  to  get  your  hand  out  of  a  fire.  The 
cords  of  the  rope  are  hard  and  cutting ;  tlus  makes  him  raise 
bis  head  and  draw  on  it,  and  as  soon  as  he  pulls,  the  slip  noose 
(the  way  rope  halters  are  always  made)  tightens,  and  pinches 
his  nose,  and  then  he  will  struggle  for  life,  until,  perchance,  he 
throws  himself.  But  this  is  not  the  worst.  A  horse  that  has 
once  pulled  on  his  halter  can  never  he  as  well  broken  as  one 
that  has  never  pulled  at  all. 

Before  anything  more  is  attempted  with  the  colt,  some  of 
the  characteristics  of  his  nature  must  be  noticed,  that  his 
motions  may  be  better  understood.  Every  one  that  has  ever 
paid  any  attention  to  the  horse,  has  noticed  his  natural  in- 
clination to  smell  everything  which  to  him  looks  new  and 
frightfal.  This  is  their  strange  mode  of  examining  everything. 
And  when  they  are  frightened  at  anything,  though  they  look 
at  it  sharply,  they  seem  to  have  no  confidence  in  their  eyesight 
alone,  but  must  touch  it  with  their  nose  before  they  are  en- 
tirely satisfied ;  and,  as  soon  as  they  have  done  that,  all  seems 
right. 

If  you  want  to  satisfy  yourself  of  this  characteristic  of  the 
horse,  and  to  learn  something  of  importance  concerning  the 
peculiarities  of  his  nature,  etc.,  turn  him  into  the  barn  yard, 
or  a  large  stable  will  do,  and  then  gather  up  something  that 
you  know  will  frighten  him — a  red  blanket,  buffalo  robe,  or 
something  of  that  kind.     Hold  it  up  so  that  he  can  see  it,  he 


360  rarey's  method  of  taming  horses. 

will  stick  up  his  head  and  snort.  Then  throw  it  down  some- 
where in  the  centre  of  the  lot  or  barn,  and  walk  off  to  one 
side.  Watch  his  motions,  and  study  his  nature.  If  he  is 
frightened  at  the  object,  he  will  not  rest  until  he  has  touched 

it  with  his  nose.  He  will 
begin  to  walk  around  the 
robe  and  snort,  all  the  time 

8TR.P  POR  THE  BioHT  FOKE  LEO.    (See  pages  Setting    a   little    cloSCr,    until 

366-370.)  lie   finally    gets  within   reach 

of  it.  He  will  then  very  cautiously  stretch  out  his  neck 
as  far  as  he  can  reach,  merely  touching  it  with  his  nose,  as 
though  he  thought  it  was  ready  to  fly  at  him.  But  after  he 
has  repeated  these  touches  for  a  few  times,  for  the  first  time 
(though  he  has  been  looking  at  it  all  the  while)  he  seems  to 
have  an  idea  of  what  it  is.  When  he  has  found,  by  the  sense 
of  feeling,  that  it  is  nothing  that  will  do  him  any  harm,  he  is 
ready  to  play  with  it.  If  you  watch  him  closely,  you  will  see 
him  take  hold  of  it  with  his  teeth,  and  raise  it  up,  and  pull  at 
it ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  you  can  see  that  he  has  not  that  same 
wild  look  about  his  eye,  but  that  he  stands  like  a  horse  biting 
at  some  familiar  stump. 

Yet  the  horse  is  never  so  well  satisfied  wnen  he  is  about  any- 
thing that  has  frightened  him,  as  when  he  is  standing  with  his 
nose  to  it ;  and  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  you  will  see  some  of  that 
same  wild  look  about  him  again,  as  he  turns  to  walk  from  it. 
You  will,  probably,  see  him  looking  back  very  suspiciously  as 
he  walks  away,  as  though  he  thought  it  might  come  after  him 
yet.  In  all  probability  he  will  have  to  go  back  and  make 
another  examination  before  he  is  satisfied ;  but  he  will  familiar- 
ize himself  with  it,  and  if  he  should  run  in  that  field  for  a  few 


RAREY'S   METHOD   OF   TAMINQ   HORSES.  361 

days,  the  robe  that  frightened  him  so  much  at  first  will  be  no 
more  to  him  than  a  familiar  stump. 

It  might  very  naturally  be  supposed  from  the  fact  of  the 
horse's  aj^plying  his  nose  to  everything  new  to  him,  that  he 
always  does  so  for  the  purpose  of  smelling  these  objects  ;  but 
it  is  as  much  or  more  for  the  purpose  of  feeling,  and  he  makes 
use  of  his  nose,  or  muzzle  (as  it  is  sometimes  called),  as  we 
would  of  our  hands ;  because  it  is  the  only  organ  by  which  he 
can  touch  or  feel  anything  with  much  susceptibility. 

He  invariably  makes  use  of  the  four  senses — seeing,  hear- 
ing, SMELLING,  and  FEELING — iu  all  of  his  examinations,  of 
which  the  sense  of  feeling  is,  perhaps,  the  most  important.  In 
the  experiment  with  the  robe,  his  gradual  approach  and  final 
touch  with  his  nose  was  as  much  for  the  purpose  of  feeling  as 
anything  else,  his  sense  of  smell  being  so  keen  that  it  would 
not  be  necessary  for  him  to  touch  his  nose  against  anything 
in  order  to  get  the  proper  scent ;  for  it  is  said  that  a  horse 
can  smell  a  man  at  a  distance  of  a  mile.  Besides,  if  the  scent 
of  the  robe  was  all  that  was  necessary,  he  could  get  that 
several  rods  off;  whereas,  we  know  from  experience,  that  if  a 
horse  sees  and  smells  a  robe  a  short  distance  from  him,  he  is 
very  much  frightened  (unless  he  is  used  to  it)  until  he  touches 
or  feels  it  with  his  nose  ;  which  is  a  positive  proof  that  feeling 
is  the  controlling  sense  in  this  case. 

It  is  a  prevalent  opinion  among  horsemen  generally  that 
the  sense  of  smell  is  the  governing  sense  of  the  horse ;  and 
with  that  view  many  receipts  of  strong-smelling  oils,  etc., 
have  been  concocted  in  order  to  tame  him.  All  of  these  as 
far  as  the  scent  goes,  have  no  effect  whatever  in  taming  him,  or 
conveying  any  idea  to  his  mind ;  though  the  acts  that  accom- 


362        RAREY^S  METHOD  OE  TAMING  HORSES.    '    ^   - 

pany  these  efforts — handling  him,  touching  him  about  the 
nose  and  head,  and  patting  him,  as  you  are  directed  to  do, 
after  administering  the  articles,  may  have  a  very  great  effect, 
which  is  mistaken  for  the  effect  of  the  ingredients  used. 

Approaching  a  Colt. — In  order  to  take  horses  as  we 
find  them,  of  all  kinds,  and  to  train  them  to  our  liking,  we 
should  always  take  with  us,  when  we  go  into  a  stable  to  train 

&  colt,  a  long  switch  whip 
(whalebone  buggy  whips  are 
the  best)  with  a  good  silk 
cracker,  so  as  to  cut  keenly 
and  make  a  sharp  report. 
STRAP  FOK  THE  OFF  FORE  LEG.  (See  p.  370.)  Tbls,  If  haudlcd  wlth  dcxter- 
ity,  and  rightly  applied,  accompanied  with  a  sharp,  fierce  word, 
will  be  sufficient  to  enliven  the  spirits  of  any  horse.  With 
this  whip  in  your  right  hand,  with  the  lash  pointing  backward, 
enter  the  stable  alone.  It  is  a  great  disadvantage  in  training 
a  horse  to  have  any  one  in  the  stable  with  you  ;  you  should  be 
entirely  alone,  so  as  to  have  nothing  but  yourself  to  attract 
his  attention.  If  he  is  wild,  you  will  soon  see  him  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  stable  from  you  ;  and  now  is  the  time  to 
use  a  little  judgment. 

Accordingly,  when  you  have  entered  the  stable,  stand  still, 
and  let  your  horse  look  at  you  a  minute  or  two,  and  as  soon 
as  he  is  settled  in  one  place,  approach  bim  slowly,  with  both 
arms  stationary,  your  right  hanging  by  your  side,  holding  the 
whip  as  directed,  and  the  left  bent  at  the  elbow,  with  your 
hand  projecting.  As  you  approach  him,  go  not  too  much 
toward  his  head  or  croup,  so  as  not  to  make  him  move  either 
forward  or  backward,  thus  keeping  your  horse  stationary  j  if 


rarey's  method  of  tI\iinq  horses.  363 

he  does  move  a  little  either  forward  or  backward,  step  a  little 
to  the  right  or  left  very  cautiously  ;  this  will  keep  him  in  one 
place.  As  you  get  very  near  him,  draw  a  little  to  his  shoulder, 
and  stop  a  few  seconds.  If  you  are  in  his  reach  he  will  turn 
his  head  and  smell  your  hand,  not  that  he  has  any  preference 
for  your  hand,  but  because  that  is  projecting,  and  is  the  nearest 
portion  of  your  body  to  the  horse.  This  all  colts  will  do, 
and  they  will  smell  your  naked  hand  just  as  quickly  as  they 
will  of  anything  that  you  can  put  in  it. 

As  soon  as  he  touches  your  hand  with  his  nose,  caress  him 
as  before  directed,  always  using  a  very  light,  soft  hand,  merely 
touching  the  horse,  always  rubbing  the  way  the  hair  lies,  so 
that  your  hand  will  pass  along  as  smoothly  as  possible.  As 
you  stand  by  his  side,  you  may  find  it  more  convenient  to  rub 
his  neck  or  the  side  of  his  head,  which  will  answer  the  same 
purpose  as  rubbing  his  forehead.  Favor  every  inclination  of 
the  horse  to  smell  or  touch  you  with  his  nose.  Always  follow 
each  touch  or  communication  of  this  kind  ivith  the  most  tender 
and  affectionate  caresses,  accompanied  with  a  kind  look,  arid 
pleasant  word  of  some  sort,  such  as,  "Ho  !  my  little  boy — hoi 
my  little  boy  I"  "  Pretty  boy  !"  "  Nice  lady  !"  or  something  of 
that  kind,  constantly  repeating  the  same  words,  with  the  same 
kind;  steady  tone  of  voice  ;  for  the  horse  soon  learns  to  read  the 
expression  of  the  face  and  voice,  and  will  know  as  well  when 
fear,  love,  or  anger  prevails,  as  you  know  your  own  feelings  j 
two  of  which,  fear  and  anger,  a  good  horseman  should  never 
feel. 

If  your  horse,  instead  of  being  wild,  seems  to  be  of  a  stub- 
born or  mulish  disposition  ;  if  he  lays  back  his  ears  as  you  ap- 
proach him,  or  turns  his  heels  to  kick  you,  he  has  not  that  regard 


3^54  rarey's  method  of  taming  horses. 

or  fear  of  man  that  he  should  have,  to  enable  you  to  handk  him 
quickly  and  easily  ;  and  it  might  be  well  to  give  him  a  few  sharp 
cuts  with  the  whip,  about  the  legs,  pretty  close  to  the  body.  It 
will  crack  keenly  as  it  plies  around  his  legs,  and  the  crack  of 
the  whip  will  affect  him  as  much  as  the  stroke ;  besides,  one 
sharp  cut  about  his  legs  will  affect  him  more  than  two  or  three 
over  his  back,  the  skin  on  the  inner  part  of  his  legs  or  about  his 
flank  being  thinner,  more  tender,  than  on  his  back.  Do  not 
whip  him  much — -just  enough  to  frighten  him  ;  it  is  not  because 
we  want  to  hurt  the  horse  that  we  whip  him — we  only  do  it  to 
frighten  vice  and  stubbornness  out  of  him.  Whatever  you  do, 
do  quickly,  sharply,  and  with  a  good  deal  of  fire,  but  always 
without  anger.  If  you  are  going  to  frighten  him  at  all,  you 
must  do  it  at  once.  Never  go  into  a  pitched  battle  with  your 
horse,  and  whip  him  until  he  is  mad  and  will  fight  you  ;  it  would 
be  better  not  to  touch  him  at  all,  for  you  will  establish,  instead 
of  fear  and  respect,  feelings  of  resentment,  hatred,  and  ill-will. 
If  you  can  succeed  in  frightening  him,  you  can  whip  him  with- 
out making  him  mad  ;  for  fear  and  anger  never  exist  together 
in  the  horse,  and  as  soon  as  one  is  visible,  the  other  disappears. 
After  you  have  frightened  him,  so  that  he  will  stand  up  straight 
and  pay  some  attention  to  you,  approach  him  again,  and  caress 
him  a  good  deal  more  than  you  whipped  him ;  then  you  will 
excite  the  two  controlling  passions  of  his  nature,  love  and  fear, 
and  as  soon  as  he  learns  what  you  require,  he  will  obey  quickl3\ 
How  TO  Halter  and  Lead  a  Colt. — As  soon  as  you  have 
tamed  the  colt  a  little,  take  the  halter  in  your  left  hand,  and 
approach  him  as  before,  and  on  the  same  side  that  you  have 
tamed  him.  If  he  is  very  timid  about  your  approaching  closely 
to  him,  you  can  get  up  to  him  quicker  by  making  tha  vhip  a 


rarey's  method  of  taming  horses.  365 

part  of  your  arm,  and  reaching  out  very  gently  with  the  butt  end 
of  it,  rubbing  him  lightly  on  the  neck,  all  the  time  getting  a 
little  closer,  shortening  the  whip  by  taking  it  up  in  your  hand, 
until  you  finally  get  close  enough  to  put  your  hands  on  him. 
If  he  is  inclined  to  hold  his  head  from  you,  put  the  end  of  the 
halter-strap  around  his  neck,  drop  your  whip,  and  draw  very 
gently ;  he  will  let  his  neck  give,  and  you  can  pull  his  head  to 
you.  Then  take  hold  of  that  part  of  the  halter  which  buckles 
over  the  top  of  his  head,  and  pass  the  long  side,  or  that  part 
which  goes  into  the  buckle,  under  his  neck,  grasping  it  on  the 
opposite  side  with  your  right  hand,  letting  the  first  strap  loose 
— the  halter  will  be  sufficient  to  hold  his  head  to  you.  Lower 
the  halter  a  little,  just  enough  to  get  his  nose  into  that  part 
which  goes  around  it ;  then  raise  it  somewhat,  and  fasten  the 
top  buckle,  and  you  will  have  it  all  right.  The  first  time  you 
halter  a  colt  you  should  stand  on  the  left  side,  pretty  well  back 
to  his  shoulder,  only  taking  hold  of  that  part  of  the  halter  that 
goes  around  his  neck  ;  then  with  your  two  hands  about  his  neck 
you  can  hold  his  head  to  you,  and  raise  the  halter  on  it  without 
making  him  dodge  by  putting  your  hands  about  his  nose.  You 
sliould  have  a  long  rope  or  strap  ready,  and  as  soon  as  you  have 
tlie  halter  on,  attach  this  to  it,  so  that  you  can  let  him  walk  the 
length  of  the  stable  without  letting  go  of  the  strap,  or  without 
making  him  pull  on  the  halter,  for  if  you  only  let  him  feel  the 
weight  of  your  hand  on  the  halter,  and  give  him  rope  when  he 
runs  from  you,  he  will  never  rear,  pull,  or  throw  himself,  yet  you 
will  be  holding  him  all  the  time,  and  doing  more  toward  gent- 
ling him  than  if  you  had  the  power  to  snub  him  right  up,  and 
hold  him  to  one  spot;  because  he  does  not  know  anything  about 
his  strength,  and  if  you  don't  do  anything  to  make  him  pull,  h« 


366  RAREY'S  METHOD   OF  TAMING   HORSES. 

will  never  know  that  he  can.  In  a  few  minutes  you  can  begin 
to  control  him  with  the  halter ;  then  shorten  the  distance  be- 
tween yourself  and  the  horse  by  taking  up  the  strap  in  your 
band. 

As  soon  as  he  will  allow  you  to  hold  him  by  a  tolerably  short 
strap,  and  to  step  up  to  him  without  flying  back.     You  can 

begin  to  give  him  some 
idea  about  leading. 
But  to  do  this,  do  not 
go  before  and  attempt 
to  pull  him  after  you, 
but  commence  by  pull- 
ing him  very  quietly 
to  one  side.  He  has 
nothing  to  brace  either 
side  of  his  neck,  and 

TAMisw  THE  HORSE.     (See  page  368.) 

Will  soon  yield  to  a 
steady,  gradual  pull  of  the  halter ;  and  as  soon  as  you  have  pulled 
him  a  step  or  two  to  one  side,  step  up  to  him  and  caress  him,  and 
then  pull  him  again,  repeating  this  operation  until  you  can  pull 
him  around  in  every  direction,  and  walk  about  the  stable  with 
him,  which  you  can  do  in  a  few  minutes,  for  he  will  soon  think 
when  you  have  made  him  step  to  the  right  or  left  a  few  times, 
that  he  is  compelled  to  follow  the  pull  of  the  halter,  not  know- 
ing that  he  has  the  power  to  resist  your  pulling ;  besides,  you 
have  handled  him  so  gently  that  he  is  not  afraid  of  you,  and 
you  always  caress  him  when  he  comes  up  to  you,  and  he  likes 
that,  and  would  just  as  lief  follow  you  as  not.  After  he  has 
had  a  few  lessons  of  that  kind,  if  you  turn  him  out  in  a  field,  he 
will  come  up  to  you  every  opportunity  he  gets. 


rarey's  method  op  taming  horses.  36T' 

You  should  lead  him  about  in  the  stall  some  time  before  you 
take  him  out,  opening  the  door  so  that  he  can  see  out,  leaduig 
him  up  to  it  and  back  again,  and  past  it.  See  that  there  is 
nothing  ont  he  outside  to  make  him  jump  when  you  take  him 
out,  and  as  you  go  out  with  him,  try  to  make  him  go  very  slowly, 
catching  hold  of  the  halter  close  to  the  jaw  with  your  left  hand, 
while  the  right  is  resting  on  the  top  of  the  neck,  holding  to  his 
mane.  After  you  are  out  with  him  a  little  while,  you  can  lead 
him  about  as  you  please. 

Don't  let  any  second  person  come  up  to  you  when  you  first 
take  him  out;  a  stranger  taking  hold  of  the  halter  would 
frighten  him,  and  make  him  run.  There  should  not  even  be 
any  one  standing  near  him,  to  attract  his  attention  or  scare 
him.  If  you  are  alone,  and  manage  him  rightly,  it  will  not 
require  any  more  force  to  lead  or  hold  him  than  it  would  to 
manage  a  broken  horse. 

How  TO  Tie  up  a  Colt. — If  you  want  to  tie  up  your  colt,  put 
him  in  a  tolerably  wide  stall,  which  should  not  be  too  long,  and 
should  be  connected  by  a  bar  or  something  of  that  kind  to  the 
partition  behind  it ;  so  that,  after  the  colt  is  in  he  cannot  go  far 
enough  back  to  take  a  straight,  backward  pull  on  the  halter; 
then  by  tying  him  in  the  centre  of  the  stall,  it  would  be  impos- 
sible for  him  to  pull  on  the  halter,  the  partition  behind  prevent- 
ing him  from  going  back,  and  the  halter  in  the  centre  checking 
him  every  time  he  turns  to  the  right  or  left.  In  a  stall  of  thig 
kind  you  can  break  any  horse  to  stand  tied  with  a  light  strap,  / 
anywhere,  without  his  ever  knowing  anything  about  pulling. 
For  if  you  have  broken  your  horse  to  lead,  and  have  taught 
him  the  use  of  the  halter  (which  you  should  always  do  before 
you  hitch  him  to  anything),  you  can  hitch  him  iu  any  kind  of 


868  rarey's  method  op  taming  horses. 

a  stall,  and  if  you  give  liim  something  to  eat  to  keep  him  up  tc 
his  place  for  a  few  minutes  at  first,  there  is  not  one  colt  in  fifiy 
that  will  pull  on  his  halter. 

How  TO  Tame  a  Horse. — Take  up  one  fore-foot  and  bend 
his  knee  till  his  hoof  is  bottom  upward,  and  nearly  touching 
his  body;  then  slip  a  loop  over  his  knee,  and  up  until  it  comes 
above  the  pastern-joint,  to  keep  it  up,  being  careful  to  draw  the 
loop  together  between  the  hoof  and  pastern-joint  with  a  second 
strap  of  some  kind  to  prevent  the  loop  from  slipping  down  and 
coming  off.  This  will  leave  the  horse  standing  on  three  legs ; 
you  can  now  handle  him  as  you  wish,  for  it  is  latterly  impossible 
for  him  to  kick  in  this  position.  There  is  something  in  this 
operation  of  taking  up  one  foot,  that  conquers  a  horse  quicker 
and  better  than  anything  else  you  can  do  to  him.  There  is  no 
process  in  the  world  equal  to  it  to  break  a  kicking  horse,  as 
there  is  a  principle  of  this  kind  in  his  nature  that  by  conquer- 
ing one  member,  you  conquer,  to  a  great  extent,  the  whole 
horse. 

This  will  conquer  him  better  than  anything  you  could  do, 
and  without  any  possible  danger  of  hurting  himself  or  you 
either,  for  you  can  tie  up  his  foot  and  sit  down  and  look  at  him 
until  he  gives  up.  When  you  find  that  he  is  conquered,  go  to 
him,  let  down  his  foot,  rub  his  leg  with  your  hand,  caress  him, 
and  let  him  rest  a  little  ;  then  put  it  up  again.  Repeat  this  a 
few  times,  always  putting  up  the  same  foot,  and  he  will  soon 
learn  to  travel  on  three  legs,  so  that  you  can  drive  him  some 
distance.  As  soon  as  he  gets  a  little  used  to  this  way  of  tra- 
veling, put  on  your  harness,  and  hitch  him  to  a  sulky.  If  he 
is  the  worst  kicking  horse  that  ever  raised  a  foot,  you  need  not 
be  fearful  of  his  doing  any  damage  while  he  has  one  foot  up, 


rarey's  method  of  taming  horses.  369 

for  he  cannot  kick,  neither  can  he  run  fast  enough  to  do  any 
harm.  And  if  he  is  the  wildest  horse  that  ever  had  harness  on, 
and  has  rnu  away  every  time  he  has  been  hitched,  you  can  now 
hitch  him  in  a  sulky,  and  drive  him  as  you  please.  If  he  wants 
to  run,  you  can  let  him  have  the  lines,  and  the  whip  too,  with 
perfect  safety,  for, he  can  go  but  a  slow  gait  on  three  legs,  and 
will  soon  be  tired,  and  willing  to  stop  ;  only  hold  him  enough 
to  guide  him  in  the  right  direction,  and  he  will  soon  be  tired 
and  willing  to  stop  at  the  word.  Thus  you  will  effectually  cure 
him  at  once  of  any  further  notion  of  running  off.  Kicking 
horses  have  always  been  the  dread  of  everybody ;  but  by  this 
new  method  you  can  harness  them  to  a  rattling  sulky,  plough, 
wagon,  or  anything  else  in  its  worst  shape.  They  may  be 
frightened  at  first,  but  cannot  kick,  or  do  anything  to  hurt  them- 
selves, and  will  soon  find  that  you  do  not  intend  to  hurt  them, 
and  then  they  will  not  care  anything  more  about  it.  You  can 
then  let  down  the  leg  and  drive  along  gently  without  any  further 
trouble.  By  this  new  process  a  bad  kicking  horse  can  be  taught 
to  go  gentle  in  harness  in  a  few  hours'  time. 

How  TO  Make  a  Horse  lie  down. — To  make  a  horse  lie 
down,  bend  his  left  fore-leg  and  slip  a  loop  over  it,  so  that  he 
cannot  get  it  down.  Then  put  a  surcingle  round  his  bod}^,  and 
fasten  one  end  of  a  long  strap  around  the  other  fore-leg,  just 
above  the  hoof.  Place  the  other  end  under  the  before-described 
surcingle,  so  as  to  keep  the  strap  in  the  right  direction  ;  take 
a  short  hold  of  it  with  your  right  hand  ;  stand  on  the  left  side 
of  the  horse,  grasp  the  bit  in  your  left  hand,  pull  steadily  on  the 
strap  with  your  right ;  bear  against  his  shoulder  till  you  cause 
him  to  move.  As  soon  as  he  lifts  his  weight,  your  pulling  will 
raise  the  other  foot,  and  he  will  have  to  come  on  his  knees. 
24 


310 


RAREY^S  METHOD   OF  TAMING   HORSED 


Keep  the  strap  tight  in  your  hand,  so  that  he  cannot  straightes 
bis  leg  if  he  rises  up.     Hold  him  in  this  position,  and  turn  his 
head  toward  you  ;  bear  against  his  side  with 
your  shoulder,  not  hard,  but  with  a  steady, 
equal  pressure,  and  in 
about  ten  minutes  he 
will  lie  down.   As  soon 
as  he  lies  down,  he  will 
be  com  pletely  con- 
quered, and   you   can 
handle  him   as    you 
please.     Take  off  the 
TBACHiNa  THE  HORSE  TO  LIE  Dowis  straps,  and  Straighten 

out  his  legs ;  rub  him  lightly  about  the  face  and  neck  with  your 
hand  the  way  the  hair  lies  ;  handle  all  his  legs,  and  after  he  has 
lain  ten  or  twenty  minutes,  let  him  get  up  again.  After  rest- 
ing him  a  short  time,  make  him  lie  down  as  before.  Repeat 
the  operation  three  or  four  times,  which  will  be  sufficient  for 
one  lesson.  Give  him  two  lessons  a  day,  and  when  you  have 
reached  four  lessons,  he  will  lie  down  by  taking  hold  of  one 
foot.  As  soon  as  he  is  well  broken  to  lie  down  in  this  way, 
tap  him  on  the  opposite  leg  with  a  stick  when  you  take  hold  of 
his  foot,  and  in  a  few  days  he  will  lie  down  from  the  mere  motion 
of  the  stick. 

To  Accustom  a  Horse  to  Strange  Sounds  and  Sights. — 
It  is  an  excellent  practice  to  accustom  all  horses  to  strange 
sounds  and  sights,  and  of  very  great  importance  to  young 
horses  which  are  to  be  ridden  or  driven  in  large  towns,  or 
used  as  chargers.  Although  some  horses  are  very  much  more 
timid  and   nervous  than ,  others,  the  very  worst  can  be  very 


rarey's  method  op  taming  horses.  371 

much  improved  by  actiug  on  the  first  principles  laid  down  in 
the  introduction  to  this  article — that  is,  by  proving  4hat  the 
strange  sights  and  sounds  will  do  them  no  harm. 

When  a  railway  is  first  opened,  the  sheep,  the  cattle,  and 
especially  the  horses,  grazing  in  the  neighboring  fields,  are 
terribly  alarmed  at  the  sight  of  the  swift,  dark,  moving  trains, 
and  the  terrible  snorting  and  hissing  of  the  steam  engines. 
They  start  away — they  gallop  in  circles — and  when  they  stop, 
gaze  with  head  and  tail  erect,  until  the  monsters  have  dis- 
appeared. But  from  day  to  day  the  live  stock  become  more 
accustomed  to  the  sight  and  sound  of  the  steam  horse,  and 
after  a  while  they  do  not  even  cease  grazing  when  the  train 
passes.  They  have  learned  that  it  will  do  them  no  harm. 
The  same  result  may  be  observed  with  respect  to  young  horses 
when  first  they  are  brought  to  a  large  town,  and  have  to  meet 
great  loads  of  hay,  omnibuses  crowded  with  passengers,  and 
other  strange  or  noisy  objects ;  if  judiciously  treated,  not 
flogged  and  ill-used,  they  lose  their  fears  without  losing  their 
high  courage. 

To  accustom  a  Horse  to  a  Drum. — Place  it  near  him  on 
the  ground,  and  without  forcing  him,  induce  him  to  smell  it 
again  and  again,  until  he  is  thoroughly  accustomed  to  it. 
Then  lift  it  up,  and  slowly  place  it  on  the  side  of  his  neck, 
where  he  can  see  it,  and  tap  it  gently  with  a  stick  or  your 
finger.  If  he  starts,  pause,  and  let  him  carefully  examine  it. 
Then  commence  again,  gradually  moving  it  backward  until  it 
rests  upon  his  withers,  by  degrees  playing  louder  and  louder, 
pausing  always  when  he  seems  alarmed,  to  let  him  look  at  it 
and  smell,  if  needful.  In  a  very  few  minutes  you  may  play 
with  all  your  force,  without  his  taking  any  notice.    When 


872  RAREY^S  METHOD  OF  TAMING  HORSES. 

this  practice  has  been  repeated  a  few  times,  your  horse,  how- 
ever spirited,  will  rest  his  nose  nnmoved  on  the  big  drum, 
while  the  most  thundering  piece  is  played. 

To  teach  a  Horse  to  hear  an  Umhrella- — Go  through  the 
same  cautious  forms,  let  him  see  it,  and  smell  it,  open  it  by 
degrees,  gain  your  point  inch  by  inch,  passing  it  always  from 
his  eyes  to  his  neck,  and  from  his  neck  to  his  back  and  tail ; 
and  so  with  a  riding-habit ;  in  half  an  hour  any  horse  may 
be  taught  that  it  will  not  hurt  him,  and  then  the  difficulty  is 
over. 

To  fire  off  a  Horse^s  bach. — Begin  with  caps,  and,  by  de- 
grees, as  with  the  drum.  Instead  of  lengthening  the  reins, 
stretch  the  bridle  hand  to  the  front,  and  raise  it  for  the  car- 
bine to  rest  on,  with  the  muzzle  clear  of  the  horse's  head,  a 
little  to  one  side.  Lean  the  body  forward  without  rising  in 
the  stirrups.  Avoid  interfering  ivith  the  horse^s  mouth,  or 
exciting  his  fears  by  suddenly  closing  your  legs  either  be- 
fore or  after  firing — be  quiet  yourself,  and  your  horse 
will  be  quiet.  The  colt  can  learn  to  bear  a  rider  on  his  bare 
back  daring  his  first  lessons,  when  prostrate  and  powerless, 
fast  bound  by  straps.  The  surcingle  has  accustomed  him  to 
girths,  he  leads  well,  and  has  learned  that  when  the  right  rein 
is  pulled  he  must  go  to  the  right,  and  when  the  left  rein  to 
the  left.  You  may  now  teach  him  to  bear  the  bit  and  the 
SADDLE,  if  you  have  not  placed  it  upon  his  back  while  on  the 
ground. 

How  TO  Accustom  a  Horse  to  a  Bit.— You  should  use  a 
large,  smooth,  snaffle  bit,  so  as  not  to  hurt  his  mouth,  with  a 
bar  to  each  side,  to  prevent  the  bit  from  pulling  through 
either  way.     This  you  should  attach  to  the  head-stall  of  your 


rarey's  method  of  taming  horses. 


ST3 


bridle,  and  put  it  ou  your  colt  without  any  reins  to  it,  and  let 
him  run  loose  in  a  large  stable  or  shed  some  time,  until  he 
becomes  a  little  used  to  the  bit,  and 
will  bear  it  without  trying  to  get  it  out 
of  his  mouth.  It  would  be  well,  if  con- 
venient, to  repeat  this  several  times, 
before  you  do  anything  more 
with  the  colt ;  as  soon  as  he  will 
bear  the  bit,  attach  a  single  rein 
1 0  i  t.  You 
should     also 


have  a  halter 
on  your  colt, 
or  a  bridle 
made  after  the 
fashion  of  a 
^^^^^^^  halter,  with  a 
strap  to  it,  so 
that  you    can 

hold   or  lead   him  about  without   pulling   at  the   bit   much. 
He  is  now  ready  for  the  saddle. 

The  Proper  Way  to  Bit  a  Colt. — Farmers  often  put  bit- 
ting harness  on  a  colt  the  first  thing  they  do  to  him,  buckling 
up  the  bitting  as  tight  as  they  can  draw  it,  to  make  him  carry 
his  head  high,  and  then  turn  him  out  in  a  field  to  run  half  a 
day  at  a  time.  This  is  one  of  the  worst  punishments  that 
could  be  inflicted  on  the  colt,  and  is  very  injurious  to  a  young 
horse  that  has  been  used  to  running  in  pasture  with  his  head 
down.  Colts  have  been  so  seriously  injured  in  this  way  that 
they  have  never  recovered. 


STRroaLES   OF   THE   VICIOUS   HORSE    AGAINST   LTINQ   DOWIT. 


8Y4  rarey's  method  or  taming  horses. 

A  horse  should  be  well  accustomed  to  the  bit  before  yo:i 
put  on  the  bitting  harness,  and  when  you  first  bit  him  you 
should  only  rein  his  head  up  to  that  point  where  he  naturally 
holds  it,  let  that  be  high  or  low ;  he  will  soon  learn  that  he 
cannot  lower  his  head,  and  that  raising  it  a  little  will  loosen 
the  bit  in  his  mouth.  This  will  give  him  the  idea  of  raising 
his  head  to  loosen  the  bit,  and  then  you  can  draw  the  bitting  a 
little  tighter  every  time  you  put  it  on,  and  he  will  still  raise 
his  head  to  loosen  it ;  by  this  means  you  will  gradually  get  his 
head  and  neck  in  the  position  you  want  him  to  carry  them, 
and  give  him  a  nice  and  graceful  carriage  without  hurting  him, 
making  him  mad,  or  causing  his  mouth  to  get  sore. 

If  you  put  the  bitting  on  very  tight  the  first  time,  he  cannot 
raise  his  head  enough  to  loosen  it,  but  will  bear  on  it  all  the 
time,  and  paw,  sweat,  and  throw  himself.  Many  horses  have 
been  killed  by  falling  backward  with  the  bitting  on  ;  their 
heads  being  drawn  up  strike  the  ground  with  the  whole  weight 
of  the  body.  Horses  that  have  their  heads  drawn  up  tightly 
should  not  have  the  bitting  on  more  than  fifteen  or  twenty 
minutes  at  a  time. 

How  to  Saddle  a  Colt. — The  first  thing  will  be  to  tie  each 
stirrup-strap  into  a  loose  knot  to  make  them  short,  and  pre- 
vent the  stirrups  from  flying  about  and  hitting  him.  Then 
double  up  the  skirts  and  take  the  saddle  under  your  right 
arm,  so  as  not  to  frighten  him  with  it  as  you  approach. 
When  you  get  to  him  rub  him  gently  a  few  times  with  your 
hand,  and  then  raise  the  saddle  very  slowly,  until  he  can  see 
it,  and  smell  and  feel  it  with  his  nose.  Then  let  the  skirt 
loose,  and  rub  it  very  gently  against  his  neck  the  way  the  hair 
lies,  letting  him  hear  the  rattle  of  the  skirts  as  he  feels  them 


rarey's  method  of  taming  horses.  8T5 

against  him ;  each  time  getting  a  little  further  backward,  and 
finally  slipping  it  over  his  shoulders  on  his  back.  Shake  it  a 
little  with  your  hand,  and  in  less  than  five  minutes  you  can 
rattle  it  about  over  his  back  as  much  as  you  please,  and  pull 
it  ofi"  and  throw  it  on  again,  without  his  paying  much  atten- 
tion to  it. 

As  soon  as  you  have  accustomed  him  to  the  saddle,  fasten 
the  girth.  Be  careful  how  you  do  this.  It  often  frightens  the 
colt  when  he  feels  the  girth  binding  him,  and  making  the 
saddle  fit  tight  on  his  back.  You  should  bring  up  the  girth 
very  gently,  and  not  draw  it  too  tight  at  first,  just  enough  to 
hold  the  saddle  on.  Move  him  a  little,  and  then  girth  it  as 
tight  as  you  choose,  and  he  will  not  mind  it. 

You  should  see  that  the  pad  of  your  saddle  is  all  right  be- 
fore you  put  it  on,  and  that  there  is  nothing  to  make  it  hurt 
him,  or  feel  unpleasant  to  his  back.  It  should  not  have  any 
loose  straps  on  the  back  part  of  it,  to  flap  about  and  scare 
him.  After  you  have  saddled  him  in  this  way,  take  a  switch 
in  your  right  hand  to  tap  him  up  with,  and  walk  about  in  the 
stable  a  few  times  with  your  right  arm  over  your  saddle,  taking 
hold  of  the  reins  on  each  side  of  his  neck  with  your  right  and 
left  hands,  thus  marching  him  about  in  the  stable  until  you 
teach  him  the  use  of  the  bridle  and  can  turn  him  about  in 
any  direction,  and  stop  him  by  a  gentle  pull  of  the  rein. 
Always  caress  him,  and  loose  the  reins  a  little  every  time  you 
stop  him. 

You  should  always  be  alone,  and  have  your  colt  in  somg 
light  stable  or  shed,  the  first  time  you  ride  him ;  the  loft  should 
be  high,  so  that  you  can  sit  on  his  back  without  endangering 
your  head.     You  can  teach  him  more  in  two  hour's  time  ia  a 


376  rarey's  method  of  taming  horses. 

stable  of  this  kind,  than  you  could  in  two  weeks  in  the  common 
way  of  breaking  colts,  out  in  an  open  place.  If  you  follow 
my  course  of  treatment,  you  need  not  run  any  risk,  or  have 
any  trouble  in  riding  the  worst  kind  of  horse.  You  take  him 
a  step  at  a  time,  until  you  get  up  a  mutual  confidence  and 
trust  between  yourself  and  horse.  First  teach  him  to  lead  and 
stand  hitched ;  next  acquaint  him  with  the  saddle,  and  the 
use  of  the  bit ;  and  then  all  that  remains  is  to  get  on  him 
without  scaring  him,  and  you  cm  ride  him  as  well  as  any 
horse. 

How  TO  Mount  the  Colt. — First  gentle  him  well  on  both 
sides,  about  the  saddle,  and  all  over  until  he  will  stand  still 
without  holding,  and  is  not  afraid  to  see  you  anywhere  about 
him.  As  soon  as  you  have  him  thus  gentled,  get  a  small 
block,  about  one  foot  or  eighteen  inches  in  height,  and  set 
it  down  by  the  side  of  him,  about  where  you  want  to  stand  to 
mount  him  ;  step  up  on  this,  raising  yourself  very  gently ; 
horses  notice  every  change  of  position  very  closely,  and  if  you 
were  to  step  up  suddenly  on  the  block,  it  would  be  very  apt 
to  scare  him  ;  but  by  raising  yourself  gradually  on  it,  he  will 
see  you  without  being  frightened,  in  a  position  very  nearly 
the  uaine  as  when  you  are  on  his  back. 

As  soon  as  he  will  bear  this  without  alarm,  untie  the  stirrup- 
strap  next  to  you,  and  put  your  left  foot  into  the  stirrup,  and 
stand  square  over  it,  holding  your  knee  against  the  horse,  and 
your  toes  out,  so  as  not  to  touch  him  under  the  shoulder  with 
the  toe  of  your  boot.  Place  your  right  hand  on  the  front  of 
the  saddle,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  you,  taking  hold  of  a 
portion  of  the  mane  and  the  reins,  as  they  hang  loosely  over 
his  neck,  willi  your  left  hand  ;  then  gradually  bear  your  weight 


RAREY'S   METHOD   OF   TAMING   HORSES. 


sn 


on  the  stirrup,  and  on  your  right  hand,  until  the  horse  feels 
your  whole  weight  on  the  saddle ;  repeat  this  several  times, 
each  time  raising  yourself  a  little  higher  from  the  block,  until 
he  will  allow  you  to  raise  your  leg  over  his  croup,  and  place 
yourself  in  the  saddle. 

There  are  three  great  advantages  in  having  a  block  from 
which  to  mount.  First,  a  sudden  change  of  position  is  very 
apt  to  frighten  a  young  horse  who  has  never  been  handled  ; 
he  will  allow  you  to  walk  up  to  him,  and  stand  by 
his  side  without  scaring  at  you,  because  you  have 
gentled  him  to  that  positi 
if  you  get  down  on 
your  hands  and 
knees  and  crawl  to- 
ward him,  he  will 
be  very  much  fright- 
ened ;  and  upon  the 
same  principle,  he 
would  be  frightened  at  your  new  position  if  you  had  the  power 
to  hold  yourself  over  his  back  without  touching  him.  The 
first  great  advantage  of  the  block,  then,  is  to  gradually  gentle 
hira  to  that  new  position  in  which  he  will  see  you  when  you 
ride  him. 

Secondly,  by  the  process  of  leaning  your  weight  in  the 
stirrup,  and  on  your  hand,  you  can  gradually  accustom  hira 
to  your  weight,  so  as  not  to  frighten  him  by  having  him  feel 
it  all  at  once.  And,  in  the  third  place,  the  block  elevates  you 
so  that  you  will  not  have  to  make  a  spring  in  order  to  get 
upon  the  horse's  back,  but  from  it  you  can  gradually  raise 
yourself  into  the  saddle.     When  you  take  these  precautions, 


SUBMISSION  OF  THE  HORSE. 


3T8  RAREY^S  METHOD   OP   TAMING   HORSES. 

there  is  no  horse  so  wild  but  that  you  can  mount  him  without 
making  him  jump.  Wlien  mounting,  your  horse  should  always 
stand  without  being  held.  A  horse  is  never  well  broken  when 
he  has  to  be  held  with  a  tight  rein  when  mounting  ;  and  a  colt 
is  never  so  safe  to  mount  as  when  you  see  that  assurance  of 
confidence,  and  absence  of  fear,  which  cause  him  to  stand  with- 
out holding. 

An  improved  plan  of  mounting  is  to  pass  the  palm  of  the 
right  hand  on  the  off-side  of  the  saddle,  and  as  you  rise  lean 
your  weight  on  it ;  by  this  means  you  can  mount  with  the  girth 
loose,  or  without  any  girth  at  all. 

How  TO  KiDE  A  Colt. — When  you  want  him  to  start  do 
not  touch  him  on  the  side  with  your  heel,  or  do  anything  to 
frighten  him  and  make  him  jump.  But  speak  to  him  kindly, 
and  if  he  does  not  start  pull  him  a  little  to  the  left  until  he 
starts,  and  then  let  him  walk  off  slowly  with  the  reins  loose. 
Walk  him  around  in  the  stable  a  few  times  until  he  gets  used  to 
the  bit,  and  you  can  turn  him  about  in  every  direction  and  stop 
him  as  you  please.  It  would  be  well  to  get  on  and  off  a  good 
many  times  until  he  gets  perfectly  used  to  it  before  you  take 
him  out  of  the  stable-. 

After  you  have  trained  him  in  this  way,  which  should  not 
take  you  more  than  one  or  two  hours,  you  can  ride  him  any- 
where you  choose  without  ever  having  him  jump  or  make  any 
effort  to  throw  you. 

When  you  first  take  him  out  of  the  stable  be  very  gentle  with 
him,  as  he  will  feel  a  little  more  at  liberty  to  jump  or  run,  and 
be  a  little  easier  frightened  than  he  was  while  in  the  stable. 
But  after  handling  him  so  much  in  the  stable  he  will  be  pretty 
well  broken,  and  you  will  be  able  to  manage  him  without  trouble 
or  danger.  --- --^---r  -     __ 


RAREY^S   METHOD   OP   TAMING   HORSES.  379 

When  you  first  mount  him  take  a  little  the  shortest  hold  oa 
the  left  rein,  so  that  if  anything  frightens  him  you  can  prevent 
him  from  jumping  by  pulling  his  head  round  to  you.  This 
operation  of  pulling  a  horse's  head  round  against  his  side  will 
prevent  any  horse  from  jumping  ahead,  rearing  up,  or  running, 
away.  If  he  is  stubborn  and  will  not  go,  you  can  make  him 
move  by  pulling  his  head  round  to  one  side,  when  whipping 
would  have  no  effect.  And  turning  him  round  a  few  times  will 
make  him  dizzy,  and  then  by  letting  him  have  his  head  straight, 
and  giving  him  a  little  touch  with  the  whip,  he  will  go  along 
without  any  trouble. 

Never  use  martingales  on  a  colt  when  you  first  ride  him ; 
every  movement  of  the  hand  should  go  right  to  the  bits  in  the 
direction  in  which  it  is  applied  to  the  reins,  without  a  martin- 
gale to  change  the  direction  of  the  force  applied.  You  can 
guide  the  colt  much  better  without  it,  and  teach  him  the  use  of 
the  bit  in  much  less  time.  Besides,  martingales  would  prevent 
you  from  pulling  his  head  round  if  he  should  try  to  jump. 

After  your  colt  has  been  ridden  until  he  is  gentle  and  well 
accustomed  to  the  bit,  you  may  find  it  an  advantage,  if  he  car- 
ries his  head  too  high  or  his  nose  too  far  out,  to  put  martingales 
on  him. 

You  should  be  careful  not  to  ride  your  colt  so  far  at  first  as 
to  heat,  worry,  or  tire  him.  Get  off  as  soon  as  you  see  that  he 
is  a  little  fatigued ;  gentle  him,  and  let  him  rest ;  this  will  make 
him  kind  to  you,  and  prevent  him  from  getting  stubborn  or 
mad. 

To  Break  a  Horse  to  Harness.— Take  him  in  a  light 
stable,  as  you  did  to  ride  him;  take  the  harness,  and  go  through 
the  same  process  that  you  did  with  the  saddle,  until  you  get  him. 


380 


RAREY'S   METHOD   OF  TAMING   HORSES. 


familiar  with  it,  so  that  you  can  put  it  on  him,  and  rattle  it 
about  without  his  caring  for  it.  As  soon  as  he  will  bear  this, 
put  on  the  lines,  caress  him  as  you  draw  them  over  him,  and 
drive  him  about  in  the  stable  till  he  will  bear  them  over  his  hips. 
The  lines  are  a  great  aggravation  to  some  colts,  and  often 
frighten  them  as  much  as  if  you  were  to  raise  a  whip  over  them. 
As  soon  as  he  is  familiar  with  the  harness  and  lines,  take  him 
out  and  put  him  by  the  side  of  a  gentle  horse.  Always  use  a 
bridle  without  blinkers  when  you  are  breaking  a  horse  to 
harness. 

Lead  him  to  and  around  alight  gig  or  phaeton  ;  let  him  look 
at  it,  touch  it  with  his  nose,  and  stand  by  it  till  he  does  not  care 
for  it :  then  pull  the  shafts  a  little  to  the  left,  and  stand  your 
horse  in  front  of  the  off- wheel.  Let  some  one  stand  on  the  right 
side  of  the  horse,  and  hold  him  by  the  bit,  while  you  stand  on 
the  left  side,  facing  the  sulky.  This  will  keep  him  straight. 
Run  your  left  hand  back,  and  let  it  rest  on  his  hip,  and  lay 

hold  of  the 
shafts  with 
your  right, 
bringing 
them  up  very 
gently  to  the 
left  hand, 
which  still 
remains  sta- 

BKEAKING  THE  HORSE  TO  HARNESS.  tlOnary.      DO 

not  let  anything  but  your  arm  touch  his  back,  and  as  soon  as 
you  have  the  shafts  square  over  him,  let  the  person  on  the  op- 
posite side  take  hold  of  one  of  them,  and  lower  them  very  gently 


NEUROTOMY  OR  NERVING.  381 

to  the  sbaft-bearers.  Be  very  slow  and  deliberate  about  hitch- 
ing; the  longer  time  you  take  the  better,  as  a  general  thing. 
When  you  have  the  shafts  placed,  shake  them  slightly,  so  that 
he  will  feel  them  against  each  side.  As  soon  as  he  will  beai* 
them  without  scaring,  fasten  your  braces,  etc.,  and  start  him 
along  very  slowly.  Let  one  man  lead  the  horse,  to  keep  him 
gentle,  while  the  other  gradually  works  back  with  the  lines  till 
he  can  get  behind  and  drive  him.  After  you  have  driven  him 
in  this  way  a  short  distance,  you  can  get  into  the  sulky,  and  all 
will  go  right.  It  is  very  important  to  have  your  horse  go  gently 
when  you  first  hitch  him.  After  you  have  walked  him  awhile, 
there  is  not  half  so  much  danger  of  his  scaring.  Men  do  very 
wrong  to  jump  up  behind  a  horse  to  drive  him  as  soon  as  they 
have  him  hitched.  There  are  too  many  things  for  him  to  com- 
prehend all  at  once.  The  shafts,  the  lines,  the  harness,  and  the 
rattling  of  the  sulky,  all  tend  to  scare  him,  and  he  must  be  made 
familiar  with  them  by  degrees.  If  your  horse  is  very  wild,  one 
foot  had  better  be  put  up  the  first  time  you  drive  him.  With 
the  leg  strapped  up,  the  lighter  the  gig  the  better,  and  four 
wheels. are  better  thaa  two. 


WARRANTY. 


In  the  purchase  of  a  horse  the  buyer  should  take  with  the  receipt 
what  is  termed  in  law  a  warranty.  The  best  way  of  expressing  it 
is  in  this  form  : 

PJiilacIelphia,  August  1,  18 — . 

Received  of  William  Ingalls  three  hundred  dollars,  for  a  black 
mare,  warranted  only  five  years  old,  sound,  free  from  vice,  and 
quiet  to  ride  and  drive. 

$300.  EDWARD  RIDDLE. 

A  receipt,  which  includes  simply  the  word  "warranted,"  extends 
merely  to  soundness.  "  Warranted  sound,"  has  no  greater  extent ; 
the  age,  freedom  from  vice,  and  quietness  to  ride  and  drive  should  all 
be  especially  named.  This  warranty  embraces  every  cause  of  un- 
soundness.that  can  be  detected,  or  that  is  inherent  in  the  constitution 
of  the  animal  at  the  time  of  sale,  as  well  as  every  vicious  habit  which 
he  has  previously  shown.  In  order  to  establish  a  breach  of  the  war- 
ranty, and  then  be  enabled  to  return  the  horse  or  recover  the  price 
paid,  the  purchase!  must  prove  that  it  was  unsound  or  viciously 
disposed  at  the  time  of  sale.  In  case  of  cough,  the  horse  must  have 
been  heard  to  cough  previously  to  the  purchase,  or  as  he  was  led 
home,  or  as  soon  as  he  had  entered  the  stable  of  the  purchaser. 
Coughing,  even  on  the  following  morning,  will  not  be  sufficient ;  for 
it  is  possible  that  he  might  have  caught  cold  by  a  change  of  sta- 
bling. If  he  is  lame,  it  must  be  proved  to  arise  from  a  cause  that 
could  not  have  occurred  after  he  was  in  the  purchaser's  possession. 
No  price  will  imply  a  warranty,  or  be  deemed  equivalent  to  one  ; 
the  warranty  must  be  expressly  stated. 

A  fraud  in  the  seller  must  be  proved,  in  order  that  the  buyer  may 
be  enabled  to  return  the  horse  or  maintain  an  action  for  the  price. 
The  warranty  should  be  given  at  the  time  of  sale.  A  warranty  or 
a  promise  to  warrant  the  horse,  given  at  any  period  previous  to  the 
sale,  is  of  no  effect ;  for  the  horse  is  a  very  perishable  commodity, 
and  his  constitution  and  his  usefulness  may  undergo  a  considerable 
change  in  a  few  days.  A  warranty  after  the  sale  is  also  of  no  effect, 
as  it  is  given  without  any  legal  consideration.  In  order  to  complete 
the  purchase,  there  must  be  a  transfer  of  the  animal,  or  a  written 
memorandum  of  agreement,  or  the  payment  of  some  sum,  however 
email,  as  earnest-money.  No  verbal  promise  to  buy  or  sell  is  bind- 
ing without  one  of  these  accompaniments  ;  and  the  moment  either 
(382) 


WARRANTY.  S83 

of  them  Is  effected,  the  legal  transfer  of  property,  or  its  delivery,  is 
made,  and  whatever  may  happen  to  the  horse,  the  seller  retains,  or 
is  entitled  to,  the  money.  If  the  purchaser  exercises  any  act  of 
ownership— as  by  using  the  animal  without  leave  of  the  seller,  or 
by  having  any  operation  performed  upon  him,  or  medicines  given 
to  him — he  makes  him  his  own. 

If  the  horse  should  afterward  be  discovered  to  have  been  un- 
sound at  the  time  of  warranty  and  sale,  the  buyer  may  return  him. 
Although  not  legally  compelled  to  give  notice  to  the  seller  of  the 
discovered  unsoundness,  it  is  best  that  such  notice  should  be  given. 
The  animal  should  then  be  tendered  at  the  house  or  stable  of  the 
seller.  If  he  refuses  to  receive  the  animal,  humanity  dictates  that 
lie  should  be  sent  to  a  livery  stable,  in  preference  to  tying  him  up 
in  the  street ;  an  action  can  be  maintained,  after  the  horse  has  been 
tendered,  for  the  necessary  expenses  of  keeping  him  as  well  as  for 
the  price  paid.  The  keep,  however,  can  be  recovered  only  for  the 
time  that  necessarily  intervened  between  the  tender  and  the  deter- 
mination of  the  action.  It  is  not  legally  necessary  to  return  the 
animal  as  soon  as  the  unsoundness  is  discovered.  The  animal  may 
be  kept  for  a  reasonable  time  afterward,  and  even  proper  medical 
means  may  be  resorted  to  for  the  removal  of  the  unsoundness  ;  but 
courtesy,  and  indeed  justice,  will  require  that  the  notice  should  be 
given  as  soon  as  possible.  Although  it  is  laid  down,  upon  the  au- 
thority of  an  eminent  English  judge,  that  "no  length  of  time  elapsed 
after  the  sale,  will  alter  the  nature  of  a  contract  originally  false, ' '  yet 
there  are  recorded  cases  in  which  the  buyer  was  prevented  from 
maintaining  his  action,  because  he  did  not  give  notice  of  the  un- 
soundness within  a  reasonable  time  after  its  discovery.  What  will 
constitute  this  reasonable  time,  depends  upon  many  circumstances. 
It  was  formerly  supposed  that  the  buyer  had  no  right  to  have  the 
horse  medically  treated,  and  that  he  would  vitiate  the  warranty  by 
so  doing.  The  question,  however,  in  such  a  case  would  be,  whether 
the  animal  was  injured,  or  his  value  lessened,  by  such  treatment. 
It  maybe  remarked  that  it  is  generally  most  prudent  to  refrain  from 
all  medical  treatment,  since  the  means  adopted,  no  matter  how 
skillfully  used,  may  have  an  unfortunate  effect,  or  what  is  don© 
may  be  misrepresented  by  ignorant  or  interested  observers. 

Wlien  a  horse  is  returned,  and  an  action  brought  for  the  price, 
it  is  indispensable  that  in  every  respect,  except  the  alleged  un- 
soundness,  the  animal  should  be  as  perfect  and  valuable  as  whett 
he  was  bought. 


384  WARRANTY. 

The  purchaser  may,  possibly,  like  the  horse;  notwithstandinp^  hig 
discove: ^a  detect;  ki  vrnicAi  case  ^q  may  leialn  Lizn.  and  iTing  ^u 
action  f -:  iho  deprsciaticn  in  valne  on  r.cccnn'  cl  -tho  nnscundness. 
Few,  however,  will  do  this,  because  the  retaining  of  the  animal  will 
give  rise  to  a  suspicion  that  the  defect  is  of  no  great  consequence, 
and  consequently  will  occasion  much  cavil  about  the  amount  of 
damages ;  the  suit  terminating,  probably,  in  the  recovery  of  slight, 
if  any,  damages. 

Where  there  is  no  warranty,  an  action  may  be  brought  on  the 
ground  of  fraud;  but  as  this  is  very  difficult  to  be  maintain^,  few 
persons  will  hazard  it.  It  will  in  such  a  case,  be  necessary  to  prove 
that  the  seller  knew  the  defect,  and  that  the  buyer  was  imposed 
upon  by  his  false  representations  ;  and  that,  too,-  under  circum- 
stances in  which  a  person  of  ordinary  carefulness  and  circumspection 
might  have  been  imposed  upon.  If  the  defect  was  palpably  evident, 
the  purchaser  has  n(v  remedy,  for  he  should  have  exercised  more 
caution  ;  but  if  a  warranty  was  given,  it  covers  every  unsoundness, 
evident  or  c'oncealed.  Although  a  person  should  ignorantly  or 
carelessly  buy  a  blind  horse,  warranted  sound,  he  may  return  it — 
the  warranty  is  his  protection,  and  prevents  him  from  examining 
the  horse  as  closely  as  he  otherwise  would  have  done  ;  but  if  he 
buys  a  blind  horse,  supposing  him  to  be  sound,  and  without  a  war- 
ranty, he  is  without  any  remedy.  The  law  supposes  every  one  to 
exercise  common  circumspection  and  common  sense. 

A  person  should  have  a  more  thorough  knowledge  of  horses  than 
most  possess,  together  with  perfect  confidence  in  the  seller,  who 
ventures  to  buy  a  horse  without  a  warranty.  If  a  person  buy  a 
horse  warranted  sound,  and  discovering  no  defect  in  him,  sells  him 
again,  relying  upon  his  warranty,  and  the  unsoundness  is  discov- 
ered by  the  second  purchaser,  and  the  horse  returned  to  the  first 
buyer,  or  an  action  commenced  against  him,  the  latter  has  his  claim 
upon  the  first  seller,  and  may  demand  of  him  not  only  the  price  of 
the  horse,  or  the  dilference  in  value,  but  all  expenses  which  may 
necessarily  have  been  incurred. 

Exchanges,  whether  of  one  horse  absolutely  for  another,  or  where 
a  Slim  of  money  is  paid  in  addition  by  one  of  the  parties,  stand  upon 
precisely  the  same  ground  as  simple  sales.  If  there  is  a  warranty 
upon  either  side,  and  that  is  broken,  the  exchange  is  vitiated ;  if 
there  is  no  warranty,  deceit  must  be  proved. 

THE    END. 


